The
RUTLAND JOWN
BICENTENNIAL
SAMPLER
1716 ~1976
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A Collection of Stories
Spanning Over 200
Sears of Jown History
We present this Bicentennial booklet with the knowledge that we have only sampled
the rich, historical lore that is to be found in Rutland Town. Although the land area
of Rutland Town was far greater in times past, we have limited our geographical coverage
to the present boundries. The nations 200th birthday is the celebration of an independent
people and thus a sampling of stories written by our own townspeople seemed to best
reflect the stuff of which our heritage is made. A hearty thank-you to all those who
contributed material and helped to make this truly an effort of the community.
Faye R. Smith, chairman
Rutland Town Bicentennial
RUTLAND TOWN BICENTENNIAL COMMITTEE:
Bertha Davidson Leonard Johnson
Mary Baird Ann Reilly
Donald Russell Sherwin Williams
Donald Swan Elrena Williams
Elizabeth Swan William Sharp
Frederick Gallipo Lyn LeTourneau
Earl Smith Anna Spencer
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS:
Typing; Terri Livak, Earl Smith, Mark Smith
Photography processing; Richard Carey, Paul Fuller
All the people that loaned old photos
Scrapbooks and Records; Myrtle Woods, Gracia Carpenter, Doris Geno, Mill Village Chapel
Assoc., Mission Covenant Church
Information; John H. Francis, Lawrence Russell, Vera Fish, J. May Davis, Edmund Sargent,
Lena Colton, Stanley Mytych
The Family of Walter Hard for use of his poem
The Rutland Herald
The Rutland Free Library (Vermont Room)
Rutland Herald Microfilms
D.A.R. (Ann Story Chapter)
All Manuscript Contributors acknowledged elsewhere
Contributors to the Bicentennial File (See last page)
Garrow Printing for many consultations and help
LIST OF PHOTOS
Mead Marker on West Proctor Rd.
The Campbell House - William Sharp House
Billings Bridge
John and Bertha Davidson's House
New Rutland Town Elem. School
Haiti School - Mill Village School
Post Road School (mid 1800's) (mid 1900's)
Old Center Rutland Schoo!
Center Rutland Schoo! and Town Hall
Scenes from the Town Hall (interior)
Old Cheney Hil! Schoo!
New Cheney Hil! Schoo!
Dyer School
Mill Village Chapel
Swedish Church
Abraham Whiting Homestead
1876 Bridge
Mill Village Bridge - 2 views
Lester Bridge - 2 views
Twin Bridges - 3 views
Billings Bridge - Dorr Bridge
Center Rutland Falls Bridge
Railroad Bridges
Mill Dam - Glen Mill
Glen Mill
Russell’s Milk Cart - Ray Russell
Mill Village Spring and Blacksmith Shop
Williams Homestead Flood Damage
President Coolidge Leaving Rutland
FROM THE 1700’s
The First Settler
The First White Child Born In Rutland Town
Center Rutland Falls-Fort Ranger
Sharp Family Descendants
The Billings Farm
Century Farms
The Hawley Farm
Revolutionary Soldiers Buried in Rutland Town
The Story of Danie! Greeno
East Creek
FROM THE 1800’s
The Kellogg Farmhouse
Thomas Dairy
Rutland Cheese Factory
History of the Davis Farm and Family
How the Town was Named, 3 Towns From One, City and Town Separate
Rutland Town Schools
The Church in Center Rutland
Mill Village Chapel
History of the Swedish Chapel
Upon this Rock
Abraham Whiting Homestead
Three Generation of Road Commissioners
Covered Bridges of East Creek
A Bridge To End Bridges-Walter Hard
Covered Bridges of Otter Creek
Railroad Bridges
FROM THE 1900’s
Journey From Czechoslovakia
The Solari Family
The Scandinavian Influence in Rutland Town
The Blacksmith
Who Built The Mill in Mill Village?
Ancient Gristmill Topples
Ray Russell-50 Years in the Milk Business
Memories of the 1947 Flood
Rutland Town Fire Department
Bicenntennial File, Rutland Town Elementary Schoo! Library
THE FIRST SETTLER
by Faye Smith
Once there was only Otter Creek, its dark water threading northward through a wild,
green valley. The morning sunlight illumined the peaks of unnamed mountains known to
us now as Blue Ridge, Pico, East Mountain, and Killington. The red men who passed
through on hunting trips did so as Silently as the wildlife they stalked. Gradually, as
white men discovered the creek to be the great artery to the North, trappers and traders
appeared, After them followed soldiers and surveyors. In 1759-60 the wilderness rang
with the sound of ax and shovels as 800 New Hampshire troops cut a road from Charles-
town, N.H, to Crown Point, N.Y. crossing at Center Rutland, probably below the falls.
Soon 400 fat cattle in five droves muddied the waters of the creek as they were driven
over the new road to provide beef for the malnourished troops at Crown Point.
In 1761 a charter was granted by Gov. Benning Wentworth of New Hampshire to Col.
Josiah Williard of Winchester, N.H. for Rutland. It was the firstnamed grantee, John
Murray, from Rutland, Mass. who probably gave the name to the township. Murray never
lived here, however,
James Mead was the first white man to settle in Rutland Town. Land was sold by
“‘righta’’, One “right'' contained about 350 acres. After selling half of the rights he
had purchased, Mead still retained 10 rights or about 3500 acres. He made his purchase
on September 30, 1769. In the fall of that year he built a log house, half a mile west of
Center Rutland, near the banks of West Creek. He found a large beaver dam in the vi-
cinity.
The first settlement of Rutland occured in March, 1770. This time the entire Mead
family came from Manchester, Vt. There was James Mead, now forty years old; his wife,
Mercy; and ten children, The oldest of the children was Sarah, seventeen years old,
married to Wright Roberts who also accompanied them. These thirteen people took three
days to make the journey from Manchester to their new home. They came over the up-
lands west. The first night they spent in Dorset, the second in Danby--passing through
Tinmouth, West Clarendon, and Smithtown. In Chippenhook Wright Roberts who was
driving cows and Mercy and Sarah had to ask directions at the house of Simeon Jenny,
a Yorker and Tory, as they had fallen so far behind the others that they had lost their
way.
The third evening they camped on land that was to become the Robert Chapman farm
in Clarendon. After a warm supper they decided to push on to the end of their journey.
History reports that it was a moonlit, frosty night.
They arrived quite late in the evaning with one pair of oxen pulling all their house-
hold belongings on a sledge; horse and cattle following. The log house which Mead had
built the previous fall had no roof, it was too near the creek and winter snows made it
uninhabitable. Nearby was a group of Caughnawaga Indians. They has a fire and were
warmly encamped in a wigwam on hiqher ground. The Indians talked among themselves
in their own tongue and then unexpectedly throwing their arms apart cried, ‘‘Welcome,
Welcome!’’ They gathered up their traps and shared the wigwam with the Meads. Late
in the fall the Mead family had a sturdy log home ready for winter.
James Mead kept a boat at each side of Otter Creek at Center Rutland for crossing.
There were no bridges. The nearest grist mills were at Skenesborough (Whitehall) and
Bennington. The iron hand mill that Mead brought was useful in grinding coarse corm.
There were trout, venison and wild fowl in abundance. Wild leeks, butternuts, wild
berries and shad plums rounded out their diet along with maple sugar. Fields needed
to be cleared, a well must be dug. There was hard work ahead for the Mead family. There
would be trouble with ‘'Yorkers’’ who claimed land in the area. Within a few years the
tide of the Revolutionary War would reach them as they received anxious reports that
Gen. John Burgoyne, leader of the British forces, had launched an invasion of the entire
Champlain Valley. Burgoyne’s forces included Indians whose savage attacks had al-
ready sent some settlers along Otter Creek fleeing south for safety. In Wwe James Mead
fought with the Green Mountain Boys at the Battle of Hubbardton. His wife Mercy alone
at home with three of her smallest children received word that the battle had been lost
and that already the enemy were reported to be in the area. Alarmed for their safety, she
took her three small children on horseback and fled to Bennington. She survived to see
woodland converted to fertile, cultivated fields. She was one of 20 people who form-
ed the first Congregational Church in Rutland which was organized in 1773. She is
buried with her husband in Evergreen Cemetery. She died at age 92 in the year 1793.
Col. James Mead served in the Revolution at the battles Hubbardton and Bennington.
He was the first moderator, first selectman and first representative from Rutland to the
first Vermont Legislature. Within two years after settling here he had established a
grist mill and lumber mill at the falls.
A marker on the West Proctor Road at the present William Hurley home commemorates
the site of Col. James Mead’s house. The stones in the cellar wall of the Hurley’s are
reportedly the same that supported the 3-room log cabin of the James Mead family, first
settlers of Rutland Town.
Sources:
Centennial Celebration of the Settlement
of Rutland, Vermont 1870
Henry Hall's Address
Tuttle & Co.
Inaugural address of Hon. John Abner Mead, Mayor
Delivered April 1, 1893
Rutland City Report
Book of Biographies of Rutland County
Biographical Pub. Co. Buffalo, N.Y. 1899
The Vermont Story (1749 - 1949)
Earle Newton, Vermont Hist. Soc. 1949
THE FIRST WHITE CHILD BORN IN RUTLAND TOWN
by Faye Smith
Who was the first white child born in Rutland Town? We take the following infor-
mation from Henry Hall, a noted historian of Rutland.
Three babies were born within a ten-day period in 1770.
The first was a son, William, born on September 23, 1770 to Simeon Powers and his
wife Lydia who had settled in the spring of 1770, west of Otter Creek on the present
Frank Belock property, once called the Kelley farm. Powers was a cooper from Spring-
field. The new baby was reportedly their second child. The story is told that a few
days before the birth of William Powers his mother and others were upset in a boat on
Otter Creek above the Center Rutland Falls. She had floated near the brink of the Falis
before she caught hold of a slippery log, holding on until rescued. A relative and his
wife came to live with the Powers in the fall named William Dwinell.
One day after the birth of the Powers’ baby a son, William, was born to James and
Mercy Mead.
The third child to be born was Chloe, a daughter to Asa Johnson and his wife from
Williamstown, Massachusetts on October 3, 1770.
The population of Rutland Town in 1770 was estimated to be about two dozen.
Source:
Centennial Celebration of the Settlement
of Rutland
Henry Hall's Address, 1870
MEAD MARKER ON WEST PROCTOR ROAD
Students from Rutland Town Elementary Schoo! gathered here on May 6, 1975 to greet Mike Canty, a member
of the Castleton Ridgerunners, as he and others in the running group reenacted the run of Major Beach, a hero of the
Revolutionary War,
CENTER RUTLAND FALLS
“These falls were originally embraced in the lands owned by James Mead and for
awhile known as ‘Mead Falls’’. Early in the 19th century the Falls and considerable
Surrounding territory were bought by William and Richard Gookin and then were known
as ‘‘Gookin Falls’’. In later years the Falls and Surrounding ar i
ea has been
name of Center Rutland. . ear
William and Richard Gookin came here from New Hampshire. They were energetic
men and applied the water power in the operation of several successful manufactures.
On the south side of the falls they built a grist mill. A paper mill did a very good
business for a number of years.
Mr. Gookin built a store at the corner of the main road and the Proctor road. It was
later occupied by Shedd and Son and then Louis Rosen. (It has now been torn down.)”’
History of Rutland County - 1886
FORT RANGER
“‘In March 1778 Rutland was made the headquarters for the State Troops. That same
year a Fort was erected at Center Rutland on the hill east of the falls Known as Gookin
Falls and named Fort Ranger. It covered two or more acres, was made of unhewn hem-
lock logs or pickets, sunk in a trench five feet deep, and rising fifteen feet high sharp-
ened at the top and inclining outward and accomodating two or three hundred troops. In
the northwest section a’ blockhouse was built, forty feet square and two stories high and
Supplied on all sides with portholes. This fort was used as headquarters and a depot of
supplies for other forts until 1781 when the headquarters was removed to Castleton.’'
Historical Rutland - Tuttle Printing Co.
CAMPBELL-SHARP-DECENDANTS IN THE TOWN OF RUTLAND
by William E. Sharp, with help from R. N. Sharp, Mendon
James Campbel!, born in Ulster County, Ireland about 1704 came to this country with
his father, Robert Campbel! and a brother and settled in Voluntown, Connecticut in 1791.
He married Hannah Taylor on June 3,1725 and settled in Killingly,Conn. in later years.
His will was dated December 1772 and he died the next year. He had 12 children all
born in Voluntown, Conn, The one we will be interested in is Samuel, his seventh child..
Samue! Campbell was born January 8, 1736 or 7. On April 10, 1760 he married Esther
Smith and they had eight children, the last two being twins. Records show that he en-
listed with a Rhode Island regiment of Provinciais about 1756. These Pravincials were
in service’ with Major Robert Rogers Rangers. He was commissioned as’a Lt. He atso
served with Ethan Allen and was in Clarendon, Vt. in.1774. It is known that Rogers
Rangers were real sharp shooters. {tt was stated that-Lt: Samuel could ‘'shoot the beak
off a humming bird at 50 yards.’'
He settled in this area and made his home on what is now called Campbe/! Road. The
place is now occupied by the Schillinger family. Lt. Samuel's first deed was recorded
in 1773 and it is believed that the home was built soon after. The Campbell Road being
built in 1759 by Capt. Stark and 200 men, it was used as a military road. Prior to 1759
it was used as an Indian trail or road. Later in 1776 under orders from General Jeff
Amherst the road was improved and a bridge at the falls was built, also one in Clarendon.
Those traveling the back road to Wallingford can still see the old bridge abutments.
Of the eight children born to Samuel, the one we are interested in was Daniel, the
third child born June 15, 1764. He lived in a house just south of the Campbell place in
what is now Haywords Orchard and was the father of 14 children. One of his children
was named Urastus and is the one we are interested in.
Urastus, born in 1796 and married in 1817 was given the old Campbell place by his
father, Daniel, as a wedding present. We must state now that the Campbells owned a
lot of property, practically the whole hill from Rutland to West Rutland. Urastus was
the father of seven children and lived to be 92. He died in 1889 and is buried in Ever-
green Cemetery.
Now to continue with the people that lived in the Campbell home after Urastus death.
Grant Boardman and wife Emma purchased the place. Mr. Boardman’s mother was
Urastus Campbells daughter. They came from Middlebury and lived there until both died.
In the early 1930’s Charles Keefe and wife Lucille and son purchased the Campbell
home. Mr. Keefe’s mother was Grant Boardmans sister so you see we still have Campbell
blood.
THE CAMPBELL HOUSE
(presently R. E. Schillinger home)
Could this be the oldest house in Rutland Town?
HOME OF WILLIAM E. SHARP - QUARTERLINE ROAD
in 1958 Mr. Keefe sold the home to the present owners the Schillingers, the first ones
that were not descendents of the Campbells.
Now to backtrack a bit and bring the Sharps into the picture. It is known that they
originally came from England, but went to Holland for religious purposes. Andrie Hance
Sharp came to this country in 1660, but records are not clear enough to trace until about
1860. Richard Sharp came here from Kinderhook, N.Y. a place south of Albany about
1860, and helped build the Dorr home near Dorr Bridge. A shop was built near the Creek
where he worked as a carpenter and cabinet maker. Born in 1829, he married Isabelle
Campbell daughter of Urastus Campbell and purchased the present Sharp farm, which
was former Campbell property. They had five children, William R. Sharp born in 1864
and a daughter and triplets that died shortly after birth. Richard Sharp died in 1916.
His father, David Sharp while visiting here from Kinderhook died in 1873 at age 74.
William R. Sharp married Carrie Newton and they were the parents of seven children.
Carrie taught at one time at the Billings Schoo! on the Creek Road. After the death of
Richard Sharp in 1916, William R. moved to the Sharp farm and Jived there until his death
in 1952.
William N. Sharp, son of William R. moved to the place after his death. He had been
running the farm since about 1930 with his father. William N. was active in politics in
the town, being a Lister and Selectman for 27 years. The fire station at Center Rutland
was dedicated in his honor. He also started a milk business in 1930 and it is still op-
erated at this writing. He married Mary LaRock in 1918 and they had six children.
William N. died in 1968.
William E. and Robert A. sons of William N. are now operating the farm. 1n1974
William E. and wife Frances (Combs) moved into the Sharp farmhouse and are presently
living there with Mrs. W.N. Sharp.
From the Campbells down through the Sharps, this covers ten generations in this
country, eight of which have lived in Rutland Town. The tenth being Robert A. Sharps
children and Carolyn Sharp Fredettes children, a sister who also lives in the Town.
* Mrs. John Eddy of Cold River Rd. whose husband was part owner of Eddy Ice Co. for
many years is a sister of William R. Sharp. She is also a resident of Rutland Town.
OLD BILLINGS BRIDGE ON OTTER CREEK MEADOWS Photo by Brehmer
THE BILLINGS FARM
Creek Road
Rutland, Vermont
The story of the Billings Farm starts way back in the days of unrest because of
British oppression, and is of historical interest because the first minister to come to
Rutland, and organize a Church, settled on this property.
Benajah Roots, a Prinston graduate of 1754, ordained in Simsbury, Conn. on August
10, 1756, was minister in Simsbury for several years. Some of Rev. Roots doctrines
were questioned by members of his parish and in August of 1771, he was dismissed and
came to Rutland.
The ‘‘ministerial Jot'' assigned to him was not to his liking, so he purchased 500
acres, 400 included the present Billings farm land, and also 100 acres across the river,
paying L 175 for same. Fourteen members met with Mr. Roots in his home on October
20, 1773 to organize the church. The first log meeting house was built near the entrance
to Evergreen Cemetery, it being the first Congregational Church in the County, and the
second on the west side of the Mountains in the State.
On a portion of the 400 acres, the Rev. Roots built his home, presumably a log cabin,
then later a home which he refers to as his ‘‘Mansion Home’’, in the Bond and Wil! which
he wrote before his death. On March 15, 1787, the Rev. Roots died from consumption in
his 62nd year, and was buried in the Pleasant Street Cemetery-now in West Rutland.
It was during the Rev. Roots’ ministry in Rutland that the Rev. William Emerson of
Concord, Mass., grandfather of Ralph Waldo Emerson, was serving as a Chaplain in the
Army at Fort Ticonderoga. He became il! with camp-fever, and by the physician’s advice,
applied for a dismissal. This was granted by Gen. Gates, and he started out in hope to
reach his Concord home. Arriving in Rutland, too ifl to go on, he was received by the
Rev. Roots who nursed him zealously. From his sick bed, Mr. Emerson wrote to his
wife the following letter: (From the Rev. William Emerson to his wife, written at Rev.
Benajah Roots’ home in Rutland, now the J. D. Billings farm).
Rutland, Septr 23, ’76
‘Dear Mrs. Emerson:-
{ am now on my way homeward but whether | ever shall reach there is very uncertain.
May God give us each a humble acquience to his sovereign Wil! as will bring Honor to
God and Comfort to our own Souls. | desire to leave you and our dear little Ones, toa
kind and gracious Providence. My dear, strive for Patience, let not a murmuring Thought
and sure not a murmuring Word drop from your Lips. Pray against Anxiety, don't dis-
trust God's making Provision for you. He will take care of you and by Ways You could
not think of.-| desire to leave you in ye Hands of a Covenant keeping God, and whether
he sees fit to restore me to Health or not,! am willing to leave ye Matter with him who
does all Things well.
May ye God of ye Fathers be your God and your dear little Ones whom | would re-
commend to him and rest, your affectionate Husband.
Wm. Emerson’’
Taken from ‘‘A Chaplain in the Revolution’’
by Dr. Emerson before the Mass. Historical Society, 1921
Mr. Emerson died a week or two later. His good host, Rev. Roots, wrote a letter
telling of his death ‘‘to the Church and people of God in Concord’’-and at the end of the
letter he wrote that Mr. Emerson was decently interred at this place with honors by a
detatchment from Col. Vandyke’s Regiment, commanded by Major Shippen.
in 1790, the Rev. Emerson’s son came and removed his father’s body to a local
burying ground. Sixty years later the grandson came, but could not locate the grave. It
is now believed that Mr. Emerson's grave is next to that of his friend, the Rev. Benajah
Roots in Pleasant Street Cemetery, and was so marked by West Rutlanders on Friday,
May 3, 1975.
As stated in the Will of the Rev. Roots, the farm eventually became the property of
his son Benajah, who proved to be a very good farmer and cleared many acres. In 1790
he purchased 1500 apple trees from Providence, R. |. and set them out on the west hill.
It is believed that this large orchard was the first of its size to be set out in Vermont.
Some of the species were Bell Flower, Porter, Greening and Spitzenberg. Now, 185
years later, many trees bloom in the spring and a few bear delicious eating -apples.
The Rev. Danie! Packer, who had moved to Mt. Holly from Guilford, Vermont, became
acquainted with Benajah Roots. He learned that the farm was for sale, so he wrote to
his brother-in-law, Avery Billings in Guilford, and advised him to buy it. Billings did
so, and in his 34th year, he with his wife and two small sons, Jesse Leeds, and Leeds
Avery moved to the Roots Farm. The deed was signed October 12, 1817. Avery Billings
paid down $2000 and was to pay $3000 in 1820 and $3000 in 1823.
Mr. Roots continued to live on the farm with Avery Billings, giving advice with a
fatherly interest. He put out his stock all the way from the farm to Montreal for $5.00
a head and a raised calf. He would be gone for a week at a time collecting rents.
Farm produce brought in little money, as can be seen by the following list taken from
an old account book kept by Avery, from 1811 on.
2 bu. corn 35 3 Ibs. Cheese -24
% bu. potatoes 17 1-% Ibs. beef 24
1 |b. butter 4 6 qts. meal 12
1 Ib. dried beef AT 1 bbl. cider .84
Flax and flax seed were also sold. In the same account book is the following bit
of interest - ‘‘l do agree to work for Avery Billings for $100.00 a year, to work ’till nine
and get up before day.’’
Times being hard, Avery found it difficult to make farm payments. One day when
Mr. Roots returned home from Montreal, where he often rode on horseback, he said,
‘*Young Billings, | have found a way for you to pay for the farm and make some money.
The orchard is in its prime. Use the apples to make cider brandy and sell it in Canada.’'
Avery said he had no money to set up an operation such as that, but Roots said he
would help him get started. The orchard was bearing a crop of 5000 bushels yearly. The
operation soon began; pulp left in the process was fed to hogs. In 1823 whisky was
selling for 10¢ a quart. Six quarts of brandy brought 75¢. In the winter the cider brandy
was taken by sled to Whitehall, N.Y. and then it went on the ice to Montreal. In time
the mortgage was paid off, and Avery Billings prospered.
Once Avery hired Artemus Pratt to drive 48 hogs to Whitehall, with the understanding
he would pay his own stage fare back to Rutland. When the driver told him the fare would
be $1.00 instead of the regular 50¢, because of muddy roads, Pratt said, ‘It ain’t worth
it, ' 1] walk.’ And he threw the sack of gold over his shoulder and walked the 25 miles.
Turkeys were also driven into Boston from the farm - a hundred or more at a time.
At nightfall the turkeys would take to the trees and the drivers would rest on the ground.
Presumably, the Billings family were living in the Mansion House of the Roots’
family until 1830 when Avery built a large brick dwelling. The brick was made across
the river on or near the present site of the V.A.C. buildings. Many of the brick houses
in the area were built from this site.
In 1831, when T.K. Horton built the old covered bridge, always known as the ‘'Billings
Bridge’, Avery furnished men and timber for same. An old account book in our posses-
sion had this record:
The Town of Rutland - To Avery Billings
To one man’s, 15 days work at $1.00 per day $15.00
Boarding 3.00
To one man’s, 10 days at 4/6 per day
Board included 14.25
To one man’s, 8 days drawing timber at 4/6 6.00
To 924 feet of squared timber at 2¢ per ft. 18.48
To 600 feet at 1¢ per foot 6.00
To 6 days work getting out sleepers 3.00
There are interesting accounts of events which took place at the Bridge, which I'm
sure are related elsewhere in the book, under Bridges.
On Hallowe’en of 1951, pranksters burned the bridge (which was not being used
temporarily because of needed repairs.) The loss of it was keenly felt by the family
and neighbors; it was like an old friend departed.
Avery Billings died in 1860. His son Jesse Leeds was then operating the farm, while
his brother, Leeds Avery, owned the next farm north, now owned by Anthony Belock. To
help with income, the two brothers set up a cheese factory for in 1873, in another account
book it states, ‘‘'Commenced making cheese today. April 1873 - made one cheese.’' “‘E.
Burt Sherman put his milk in.’ There is a long list of names of farmers who brought
milk into the factory. They averaged 125 cheeses a month, making what they called
‘‘plain’’ cheese and ‘‘sage.’’ It sold for 13¢ a pound, and it must have been a thriving
business according to the number of boxes of cheese mailed out.
At some time during the 1880's, the brick house burned down during the bitter cold
winter months. The family stayed at the Leeds Billings for a time since just about
everything in the house burned, according to a list found in an old account book which
says, ‘‘household things destroyed’’ and a value set on them. Much of the original brick
wall remained so it was rebuilt, but this time no fire places were included. The back
part of the house is the original of 1830.
Jesse Leeds Billings was a very well-read man who took an active interest in town
affairs. He served as selectman and appraiser for years. And he was one of the founders
of the Rutland County Agricultural Society (now Rutland Fair), serving for two years
as its president, several years the treasurer, and was one of the trustees. He served
on the Centennial Committee in 1875. He was a staunch Democrat, frequently addressing
public assemblages; an independent and outspoken man on al! questions. in 1851 he
married Anne Louise Smith, who died in 1853. His second wife was Josephine Briggs of
Clarendon and three sons were born to them, namely Jesse Dyer, born in 1861, Seymour
and Avery. At the time of their father’s death, Jesse Dyer Billings was running the farm.
Seymour was with the firm of Pierce & Billings, and Avery was a student at U. V.M.
Jesse Dyer Billings (1861) attended school in the little brick one which was built
in 1865, and situated on the corner of the Campbell and Creek Roads. He was a suc-
cessful farmer, and one of his interests was raising sheep. As many as 1000 could be
seen grazing on the hillside among the apple trees. Many a passer-by stopped their
vehicles in the spring of the year to watch the baby lambs at play or tagging their
mothers.
There is an interesting story of a huge elm tree which stood by itself in the pasture
south of the house. It was fondly called the ‘‘Old Sentinel’’ by the family. It seems
that in 1775, the British were in camp in the area for three days, and the elm tree was
used for target practice; consequently there were lead pieces imbedded in it, and the
Billings boys, from Avery Billings’ sons down, used to dig out pieces of lead with
their knives. The tree measured twenty-one feet in circumference and the largest and
longest limb was over 90 feet. This beautiful old tree had been admired for years. In
1921 it was struck by lightening, and for four days a curl of smoke rose many feet high.
Finally a rain saved it from utter destruction until 1931 when another severe storm ended
its days.
And now we come to the 1930's and Jesse Dyer Billings, Jr. became the operator
and eventually the owner of the home farm, and did so for over thirty years, Jesse, Sr.
having died in 1934. Jesse, Jr. had married in 1930, and there were four children of
this union - Jesse, Katharine, Preston and Harold. Upon graduation from college, Harold
and his wife Trudy purchased the farm - and they have three children, so from 1771 to
the present time (1975) there were two generations of Roots on the property and the 6th
generation of Billings living on it now.
One Sunday in January, 1969, Jesse Billings, Jr. was walking in the pasture west of
the house when he stubbed his toe on an object which proved to be a 10 pound cannon
ball which had come to the surface with the January thaw. It is thought it could have
rolled off the artillary wagon when the British were camping on the farm, and using the
old elm tree for target practice. So, finding the cannon bat! takes us back again to the
days of the revolution, when the history of the Billings Farm al! began.
Lillian T. Billings (Mrs. Jesse D., Jr.)
References: History of Rutland County 1886 (H. P. Smith & W. H. Rann)
Massachusetts Historical Society 1921
“A Chaplain of the Revolution’’ (by Edward Waldo Emerson)
Family records Old Rutland Courriers Old Rutland Heralds
Notes and articles written from research by Mrs. Jesse Billings, Sr.
CENTURY FARMS
In 1951 the Vermont State Farm Bureau instituted a search for Century Farms,i.e.,
farms that have been held and operated by members of the same family for a munaired
years. Many that were eligible did not apply for recognition. Although the Farm Bureau iS
qualifications may differ somewhat from those of the Bicentennial Committee, a brief
search reveals the following farms in Rutland Town to be worthy of the century title.
In view of the unpredictibility of Vermont weather, fluctuation of prices, the unrelent-
ing demands of stock care and the countless obstacles that beset the farmer, a hundred
years of farming seems like a tremendous accomplishment. We present the following:
The Sharp Family Farm Mary D. Baird’s Farm
The Thomas Farm (received
award in 1963)
The Billings Farm
The M. E. Hawley Farm
The Kellogg Farm
The Williams Farm
* If we have overlooked any others, we would welcome information about them as a
contribution to our Bicentennial File in the Rutland Town Elementary School Library.
THE HAWLEY FARM
Joseph Kimball, an early Rutland Town settler, made his home on what is now known
as the Hawley Farm located on Post Road about a mile and a quarter east of Route 7 in
Mill Village.
At the time Kimball settled, Post Road was known as Road 24. The farm entered the
Hawley family when Kimball's daughter Betsy married Abijah Hawley and they made their
home on the farm sometime in the late 1700’s. Abijah was father to Andrew Hawley who
was born in 1812. Andrew later married Catherine Felch and they settled as the second
generation of Hawley’s on the farm. Andrew had a son Ira who married Delia Davis.
They in turn settled as the third generation on the farm.
In 1894 the original Hawley farm was completely destroyed by fire when a lantern in
the barn was accidentally Knocked from its’ nail, causing the fire.
A new set of buildings was constructed with the house built on the original foundation.
lra's son Arthur Hawley and his second wife, Lucretia VonFintell, moved into the new
farmstead as newlyweds in 1910 before its completion.
In 1943, Arthur's youngest son Maurice married Esther Taylor. They settled in the
second floor apartment of the farm house where they still reside. Their two daughters,
Judy and Carol are the sixth generation of Hawley’s on the farm.
Written by Carol Hawley
References: Family Bible and records
Childs Directory 1881 - 82
10.
REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIERS BURIED IN RUTLAND TOWN, VT.
Graves located and marked by Ann Story Chapter, DAR, Rutland, Vt.
EVERGREEN CEMETERY
ARNOLD, OLIVER b. 1744 - d. 1831
Service: Private in the Vt. Militia
FARMER, BENJAMIN b. 1764 - d. 1840
Service: Private in Capt. John Minet’s Co., Col. Dike’s Regt- Mass. Service
. GREENO, DANIEL b. 1755 - d. 1810
Service: Served in the Battle of Bennington
. GORHAM, SETH b. 1762 - d. 1852
Service: Was a private in the Conn. State Troops - Pensioned Mar. 4, 1831 :
GOVE, CAPT. NATHANIEL b. 1756 - d. 1813
Service: Sergt at the Lexington Alarm and served as Lt. in Capt. Belcher’s
Co. 8th Conn. Regt.
. MEAD, ABNER b. 1756 - d. 1813
Service: In Capt. Simeon Wright’s Co. in Col. Warren’s Regt of’Militia - and
other services - Vt.
MEAD, COL. JAMES b. 1730 - d. 1804
Service: Served as Col. of the 3rd Regt of Vt. Militia throughout the War
POST, SIMEON b. 1753 - d. 1841
Service: Private and Sergt. in the Conn. Cont’! line. Pensioned
REYNOLTD, LT. JONATHAN b. 1740 - d. 1840
Service: Commissioned 2nd Lt. under Capt. Bartholomew Barrett and Col.
Peter Van Ness 1775 to end of War N.Y. Service
WHEELOCK, ELEAZER b. 1756 - d. 1841
Service: Several enlistments. In Capt. Sam’! Williams Co. of Militia and
Col. Ebenezer Allen’s Regt on several alarms. Also enlisted as
a private at Westborough, Mass. in 1775 serving under Capt.
Thomas Wheelock and Col. Ward of Mass. for 8 months
REVOLUTIONARY WAR SOLDIERS BURIED IN RUTLAND TOWN, VT.
Graves located and marked by Ann Story Chapter, DAR, Rutland, Vt.
OLD CENTER RUTLAND CEMETERY
BATEMAN, CORP. JOSEPH b. 1759 - d. 1843
Service: Corp. in Capt. Bemis Co., Col. Chapins Regt. Mass. Service
SULLINGS, JOHN b. 1743 - d. circa 1821
Service: Sergt in Mass. Continental Line. Rec'd Pension
BOWKER, CAPT. JOSEPH b. 1725 - d. 1784
Service: Was Commissary of Purchases; also on Committee of War and
other civilian services. Served from Vermont.
CHENEY HILL CEMETERY
CHENEY, CAPT. BENJAMIN b. 1763 - d. 1850
Service: Was in ‘'Rowley’s Contingent’’
mustered into servi
Rec'd Pension in 1818 ee eae
NOTE: There are probably other revolutionar
y soldiers buried in Evergreen
whose graves we have not as yet loca : Cemetery
ted - When this Cemetery was opened circa
1860 or before, many of the bodies (or at least the tombstones) were moved from
the older cemeteries in Rutland and placed in the new cemetery. Hence we are
continuing to find Rev. soldiers buried in Evergreen.
Mrs. Alton Swan kind|
D.A.R. y sent this list that she uses for the Ann Story Chapter of the
This was sent of our Postmaster, Mr. Richard Flory, and he made this copy for us
Bertha Davidson
THE STORY OF DANIEL GREENO
Danie! Greeno was a veteran of the Revolutionary War and an early settler of Rutland
Town. He came to Rutland from Boston, Mass. purchasing land in the northeastern part
of the township. The title to his land proved defective, however and he then purchased
a tract of land which embraced the present Gallipo property on North Grove St. and more
which we are not able to document at this time. The original farm consisted of nearly a
thousand acres. Both Mr. and Mrs. Greeno were in Bennington for the Battle in 1777.
He fought with the Green Mountain Boys and she stayed for several weeks to care for
the wounded.
Mr. Greeno built his first frame house in 1795. He kept a tavern there for many years.
* The original farmhouse was reportedly the present home of the Nicholas Denardo family.
He was the father of ten children, eight boys and two girls.
{t was Amasa, one of his sons born in 1792, who next occupied the homestead. He
married Betsy Farmer in 1814, daughter of Benjamin Farmer, who was also a Revolutionary
soldier, neighbor, and early settler of Rutland Town. Of the four children born to Betsy
and Amasa, two boys, two girls; it was their two sons Amasa A. and Benjamin who next
assumed ownership of the farm. They were ages 33 years and 27 years at the time of
their fathers death in 1848.
Following the death of Daniel Greeno some tracts of land were sold and others pur-
chased so that the estate of Amasa A. and Benjamin comprised 600 acres of excellent
farming lands.
(We do not have sufficient knowledge of the property transactions and sale of lands
but the dwelling house of Benjamin Greeno shown in a detailed drawing in the I|lustrated
Atlas of the State of Vermont, 1876 page 75 (Vt. Room, Rutland Free Library) is the
residence now occupied by Earl Fox on the Fred Gallipo Farm).
The two brothers never legally divided the land between them but each worked a
certain portion. They brought the farm into a high state of cultivation. It was considered
one of the most valuable and attractive rural homesteads in the county. Amasa A. never
married. Benjamin was married Oct. 18, 1848 to Sarah Cheney, daughter of Benjamin
Cheney, a prominent settler in the town. He is reported to have married a second time.
There were no children from either marriage. Benjamin was active in town affairs,
holding the office of Justice of the Peace and Lister. In later years he signed a note
with another person and when the other party was unable to pay his debt, Mr. Greeno
lost his farm. One can only guess at the heartbreak of losing the land that he and his
brother had brought to such productivity. He died a poor man. The farm was sold to
John Crampton, then later to Merritt Thomas. Ownership then passed to Edward Fox in
1904, the Creed family and lastly to Fred Gallipo, the present owner.
Sources:
Information from a paper written by Katherine Fox, 1940 ‘‘History of Rutland County”’
Child’s Directory, 1881 - 1882
! I\lustrated Atlas of the State of Vermont, H.W. Burgettand Co. Pub. 1876
EAST CREEK
The largest watercourse in the Town of Rutland is Otter Creek (Peconktuk) the
Waubanakee word for ‘‘Crooked River.’’ This historic waterway rises in the Danby-
Mt. Tabor area and flows northerly its entire length to enter Lake Champlain below
Vergennes.
Presumedly some early voyager noted a side tributary entering Otter Creek from the
East near Dorr Bridge and bestowed upon this stream the prosaic name ‘‘East Creek’’.
No doubt the Indians called this by a more euphonious name probably lost forever. Little
Otter Creek in Ferrisburg was called Wanakaketuk and Lewis Creek an effortless Sung-
ahneetuk. There is another East Creek in Orwell. Since the first recorded white man to
visit these parts was accompanied by twelve Caughnawaga Indians why not rechristen
our misnamed stream Caughnawaga Creek? Would not a tale of a large catch of trout
become more invested with glory when it was divulged that they were caught in ‘‘The
Caughnawaga’’?
One branch of this stream rises in the Town of Chittenden and drains the area which
feeds the Chittenden Dam. During the great flood of 1927 Chittenden Dam held this
branch in obeyence saving the down-river towns from great damage. However in 1947
the ‘‘flashboards’’ on this dam broke sending a great flood of water into East Pittsford
Pond alias '‘Meadow Lake’’. This in turn collapsed sending a veritable wall of water
into Rutland Town and City. While 1500 people ran for their lives other hundreds cringed
before its fury. This branch joins another which rises in the Wheelerville area and
supplies the City of Rutland. This branch is commonly known as Mendon Brook.
The confluence of these two main branches is in the northeastern part of Rutland
Town, a short distance above Glen Dam which is piped to Glen Station in Mill Village.
This in turn empties into Patches Dam just above the ‘‘76’’ bridge.
Countless grist, saw, carding, shingle and clapboard mills have been built on East
Creek. They are now completely a thing of the past and a few flood-ravaged foundations
stand as mute evidence of past dreams, successes or failures. (A mill was once planned
and a dam built near the mouth of Tenney Brook near Crescent St.. When the gate was
closed and the pond filled the dam collapsed thus changing a dream into a nightmare.)
Around 1877 the grist and sawmill in Mill Village burned. Before the holocaust was
finished buildings were burned as far as North St. in Rutland City. A sidelight of this
fire; the horse-drawn fire engines became stuck in the mud on North Main St. in front of
the present Sewards Dairy.
The coming of hydro-electric power changed the picture of this stream. With the
construction of Patch’s Dam in the early 1920’s the last grist rumbled through the mill
in Mill Village and the whine of the circular saw run by water power echoed into oblivion.
However many of the landowners along the stream received an impetus to their economy
when ‘‘the Company’’ bought the water rights.
Before the larger dams were built there were ice jams in the spring. On one occasion
the Chittenden Stage and driver were hit by a cake of ice and capsized near Mill Village.
The driver contracted pnuemonia and died. A jam once changed the course of the stream
from west of the present State Police Barracks to its present course.
Besides a vast amount of hydraulic energy this stream has provided a rich bounty of
fish. First, native trout followed by stocked rainbow and brown. Prom the pristine
headwaters to Otter Creek fish have been and still are plentiful. The largest unofficial
wild native was a five and one-fourth pound monster caught near the covered bridge in
Mill Village by a ‘‘Mr. Brown’’ many years ago. How many priceless Bouts have been
spent on this stream by the followers of Isaac Walton-from a small boy’s first dace to
the fly fisherman's big one that did not get away!
A few Ole Swimmin’ Holes still exist.
Another contribution which should not be overlooked is the annual fur harvest which
this creek accounts for. Many school boys have had their first lessons of running a
business of their own and learned the value of a dollar, while many adults have helped
fill the larder with money derived from the pelts of mink, muskrat, raccoon, beaver and
the otter taken along this stream.
So from a plunging, pristine mountain river East Creek has been pretty well tamed by
dams and civilization, but as long as water falls from the sky and runs downhill it will
be here and there will always be some vestige of its bygone splendor.
written by Donald V. Russell
Sources of Information:
Indian Names, Rowland Robinson
Rutland Herald Clippings - ‘‘Old Mill’? May 20, 1925
Child’s Directory 1881 - 82
Family stories and records
THE KELLOGG FARMHOUSE ON ROUTE #7
The Kellogg house as it stands today is believed to have been built in three stages
wen oe wie present garage was probably the original farmhouse
arly 'Ss two-story building, dating back to at lea
F st 1834, wa
later built nearer the road, with a one-story section connecting it to the original Nae
In 1937, a second story was added ; .
upstairs, y ed to the middle section, creating a fullsized apartment
At one time, stately elms graced the front yard. Sheep, cows, and chickens were
aised o the fa over the years but recent it beca e necessar to tea do t
’ Cc
y y wn the
The first owner of the house and farm was Ja
mes A. Cheney for whom Chene il
. oe Woods are named. After the death of his wife, James Cheney matted
aroline Kellogg. Caroline’s son Joseph Kellogg, was eleven years old when he came
here to live with his mother and ste i
pfather. It is through Joseph and hi
that the farm has stayed in the Kellogg family to this day. . ee
written by Edith Kellogg
(Mrs. John Kellogg)
THOMAS DAIRY
Thomas Dairy, a retail-wholesale milk business located on Route 7 North in Rutland
Town, was started in 1921 by the late Orin A. Thomas, Sr. Previous to this time as
with many other local farmers, Mr. Thomas sold his milk to Brigham’s Milk Plant on
South Main Street, which in turn shipped it to Boston.
Over the years many changes in the handling of milk have led to improvements in the
quality and flavor. Pasteurization, begun in 1931, and homogenization, first offered in
1947, were accompanied by better methods of cooling, bottling, and refrigeration. A
quart of milk cost ten cents in 1921; today it sells for thirtynine cents.
First introduced in 1952, the quart carton has completely replaced the glass bottle.
At the present time, in addition to the quart carton, one-half gallon and plastic gallon
jugs have helped to meet the increased demand for milk.
Because this business has grown from one very small route to six retail and two
wholesale routes, it has been necessary to increase the amount of land needed to feed a
larger herd of cattle. At the present time the farm includes approximately six hundred
acres of land and two hundred fifty registered Holstein cows.
Every-day deliveries to the customer were replaced by every-other-day deliveries
during World War Il. A schedule of no Sunday deliveries started in 1954 now includes
on deliveries on Wednesdays.
The flood of 1947, resulting from heavy rains and East Pittsford Dam crumbling,
caused much inconvenience, and a serious fire in 1956 destroyed a barn containing a
large amount of farm machinery. But the most disastrous misfortune occurred in Apri!
1968 when fire ravaged the main cattle barn. Although only one cow died as eighty-nine
others were led to safety, it was not until nearly a year later that this stanchion type
building had been replaced by a three hundred ten foot free-stall structure and milking
parlor, providing for the housing, and milking of more cattle with less labor.
Mr. Thomas was the third generation of his family to farm at the same location, con-
tinuing in the same occupation as his father, Merritt L., and his grandfather, Orin, who
purchased the land in 1854. Today the farm and milk business, incorporated in 1947, are
operated by four of Mr. Thomas’ sons, Paul, Richard, Sr., Merritt, and William. Among
the sixteen full-time employees, are two grandsons and one grandson-in-law.
May 1975
written by Margaret Thomas
(Mrs. Paul Thomas)
SS
SS SS
RUTLAND CHEESE FACTORY
; For a certain period of time in Rutland, on what is now Cedar Avenue, there was a
cheese manufacturing operation in existence. It was in operation in 1869, and how much
a it is not certain. In 1880 the Rutland Cheese Factory used 1,276,422 lbs. of
milk from 450 cows to make 133,067 Ibs. of cheese. It took 9 Ibs. of milk to make 1
pound of cheese. The cheese was sold for an average of 8 cents per pound.
In 1880 the cheese making season started on April 4 and ended November 14.
The capital invested was estimated to be 3,000 dollars. There were three employees
two males above 15 years, and one female above 15 years. Some of these were perhaps
on a part-time basis. A total of $320 was paid out in wages for the season.
In 1881-82 the business was operated b the M i
Giesmiee oe p y arks Bros., Charles and Carlton, with
In 1887-88 Charles was stil! cheesemaker.
In 1889, on Dec. 28 a deed was executed by Elizabeth Johnson, Horace E Colburn
and Emily E. | i “
pny y Colburn transferring the property to the Rutland Cheese Factory Co. of
This may be about the time that Charles Mark
S moved to the Rutl
57 West St. where he was listed in 1891 -92. pec Cy
In the times covered by the operation of this cheese factory cows were not commonly
milked during the winter barn season and milk i
‘ production was not de -
tent current at the present time. eer ee
On Sept. 3, 1895 the real estate and water ri
; ghts for the Rutland Cheese Factory of
1889 were deeded back to Horace E. Colburn. The deed stated that the building hed
been destroyed by fire. This transfer was not received until May 2, 1898.
ehtahavieeie written by Donald Swan
Census Records, Rutland County, 1880, on micro-film, Rutland Free Library
Gazetteer & Business Directory of Rutland County, Vt., 1881-82
Compiled and published by Hamilton Child
Pelton’s Directory, Compiled by George E. Pelton, Pelton Printing Co., Rutland, Vt.
Rutland Directory, 1891-92, Compiled by R.S. Dillon & Co., Pub. Tuttles
Property Transfer Records, City Clerks Office, Rutland, Vt.
Beer's Atlas for Rutland County, Vt. Pub. 1869-1969, C. Tuttle Co.
NOTE: A drawing of the cheese factory building is shown on Page 75, Illustrated
Atlas of the State of Vermont, Burgett & Co. 187
Free Library) v - 1876 (Vermont Room, Rutland
THE HISTORY OF THE DAVIS FARM AND FAMILY
In September 1874, Edgar and Charlotte Kelley Davis, with her father and mother
bought the Barnes farm of about 85 acres on the Pittsford road, from Mr. Spooner and
moved there from the Baxter farm on the Creek road. Mr. Davis was the youngest of the
sons of Hiram and Anna Hubble Davis of Pittsford. Mrs. Davis was the only child of
Alonzo and Clarrissa Spring Kelley of Clarendon.
At the time of the move to the Barnes farm, Mr. and Mrs. Davis had two children:
Agnes Louise age eleven years and a son Guert Alonzo, age seven and one-half years.
They both began school in the brick school-house on the Creek Road just south of the
Baxter farm. After the move they both attended the near-by Mill Village district school;
then Agnes went on to Castleton Normal School and Guert went to Black River Academy
in Ludlow until his father decided he was learning too much not from books. (Paul
Harris, the founder of Rotary and Calvin Coolidge attended Black River Academy at
this time.) He then sent Guert to Troy Conference Academy in Poultney where he did
a little better.
As adjacent lands to the farm were made available for purchase the Kelley-Davis
family purchased them until they owned about 144 acres. They were quite successful
farmers with a small dairy and a flock of sheep.
tn June 1880 Alonzo Kelley died and in 1887 his widow Clarrissa passed away.
During these early years many changes and improvements were made on the farm. An
addition of sixty feet was added to the north end of the cow barn; the sheep barn was
moved from the west side of the road and attached to the east end of the horse barn and
the west end of a small barn connecting all to the cow barn. This gave good protection
to the farm yard from the north-west winds. The spring water was piped across the road
to the house and barns. The cistern was discontinued; a bathroom was built in where a
pantry and cistern pump room had been. Sometime in the 1890's a hot air furnace was
installed in the cellar to take the place of wood heating stoves and two fireplaces.
In 1896 there was growing friction in the community over the location of a Chapel
which all felt the need of. To put an end to this feeting, Mr. and Mrs. Davis gave the
parce! of land where the Mill Village Chape! now stands.
In the late 1890’s Guert started a retail milk route in the City of Rutland delivering
milk to the homes in cans. Each customer had her milk pans set out for him to measure
the milk into with his tin quart cup. After a few years he decided to deliver milk in
glass bottles, being one of the first, if not the first, milk peddler to do so in Rutland.
He had many problems with his competitors the worst of which was the smashing of his
bottles. The housewives liked the bottles.
About this time he built a creamery with heavy iron basin sinks for washing the
bottles and the milk pails, which were sterilized with live steam produced by a boiler
fired by wood and later coal. This method was used until he sold his retail business in
the 1920’s. Another process he was very particular about was to cool the milk as quickly
after it was milked from the cow and as rapidly as possible. This necessitated the
harvesting of large quantities of ice in January and February. Then quantities of saw-
dust to preserve the ice had to be hauled by team from the sawmills. Sometimes a man
and team would be gone all day for just one load, going back on the Bark Hill and the
Turnpike Road or into Chittenden where-ever sawdust was available.
In 1893 Edgar Davis and members of the Schoo! Board hired Della Farwell of Poultney
and a graduate of Castleton Normal School, to teach in Mill Village School. She came to
board and room with the Davis family. Her teaching time was short because of two
deaths in her home in two weeks, so she had to return home.
On March 28, 1900, Guert Davis married Della Farwell and they immediately began
housekeeping in the house he built the previous fall and winter just south of the brick
house,
In 1902 a telephone, only the third in this end of town, was installed in the Edgar
Davis home.
In February 1903, Mary Charlotte was born to Guert and Della. This was a very
happy event.
In August 1903 everybody’s nerves were set on edge by a horse theif. His name was
Rufus Young. He did the job of taking the horses for a man in Ware, Massachusetts who
had other men spotting horses that would sell wel! as driving horses in the cities.
One summer night the family dog was very disturbed and barked a great deal, always
looking down the road toward the cedar covered bank across from the Chapel. That night
this Mr. Young, it was proven afterward, came to the barn and took the ladies driving
horse, which was occasionally used on the milk cart. Edgar Davis contacted Sheriff
Peabody and work was started to Pick up the trail. it was many weeks later that the
first evidence was found. A light lap robe was found with a name on it, then later a whip
with a store name on it. One day a young boy, maybe twelve years old, talked with some
of Sheriff Peabody's men and said something about a man driving a black horse. They
knew then they were on the trail. All this was in Weston and Londonderry area. Then
Someone Saw a span of chestnuts being driven south in Arlington.
One day it was learned that a man from Ware, Mass. spent his summer vacations ata
home on N. Main St. in Rutland. From him it was learned there was a large livery stable
in Ware. Sheriff Peabody asked this man if he thought the operator of this stable would
deal in stolen horses. He told him, he might. The next day Edgar Davis and Sheriff
Peabody started for Ware. When they arrived at the stable they said they were looking
for a good driving horse that would be safe for women to drive. The operator brought out
“‘Old Doll’’ all polished and shining even to her hoofs. She recognized Mr. Davis so he
Spoke to her and she whinned. The operator said ‘‘You know this horse?’’ Mr. Davis
said, ‘Yes, this is my horse.’’
Old Doll came home and in three nights the men were after her again, this time wrap-
ping her feet in bran sacks. But when they opened the carriage house door, a bell that
had been hung on a coiled wire on the inside of the door gave them away. Agnes awoke
and called down the stairs to her father and the hired man awoke, grabbed his shot-gun
and ran for the door. They didn’t get far with the horse. The next morning there were
tracks found in the mud under the bedroom windows downstairs where someone had been
listening and waiting. The span of chestnuts seen in Arlington proved to belong to a man
in Middlebury. Somewhere, Rufus Young was shot in the back as he was fleeing from the
officers of the law. His body was buried in the Potter’s Field back of the Old House of
Correction, now gone, that stood at the corner of State St. and Pierpoint Ave.
In August 1904, Edgar Farwell was born to Guert and Della and on Oct. 12, 1904
Agnes Davis and John Pond were married. They moved to the John Cramton Farm in the
southern part of Rutland Town, where they worked for about two and a half years. me
this time Edgar Davis’ health was beginning to fail and very soon Agnes and John move
back to help out. On June 6, 1908 Edgar Davis died. Now Mrs. Davis held the reins.
She decided that the brick house was too large for her, Agnes and John, so she told Guert
and Della that they should take the brick house and she with Agnes and John would take
the smaller house. The change was made in September 1908. On March 6, 1903, Char-
lotte and Edgar Davis bought another farm known as the Engrem farm which was across
the road from what is now the Central Vermont Public Service Corp. power station. This
farm was deeded to Agnes and John Pond, April 1, 1906. Guert Davis and John Pond
operated the two farms in a partnership for a few years, then it was disolved and each
had his own farm with dairy and John Pond had his sheep.
In May 1909 Robert Fifield was born to Guert and Della. In the following decade many
changes took place. The creamery was moved to the south end of the cow barn, a milking
machine was installed, run by a small gasoline engine: then a home electric plant with
lights for the houses and barns was installed. The batteries were charged by ie
little engine that ran the milking machine. A silo was built, much to the consternation oO
nearby farmers and new machinery was purchased for raising and harvesting corn silage.
Jn 1918 Guert was persuaded by many of the townsmen to represent the town in the
legislature. He was always active in town affairs and hated to see the town get in debt
or be used for anyones personal gain.
i i local representative for the
Then came the pressure for him to be a director and
Eastern States Farmers Exchange Cooperative. This he held until about 1938, when fail-
ing health made it necessary for him to resign.
Just prior to the Bank Holiday in 1929, which was the beginning of the Great Depres-
sion of the 1930's, Guert bought the George Cramton Farm on the Chittenden Road. This
multiplied his financial problems and added to pressures that lead to his stroke and
gradual failing health.
Nov. 5, 1930-Agnes Davis Pond passed away.
Nov. 24, 1932, Guert Davis suffered a stroke which greatly hampered him for the rest
of his life. He was always interested in new and better ways of farming and helping the
less fortunate. Mrs. Della Davis died Aug. 10, 1942 and on Aug. 19, 1942 Guert Davis
passed away. They had lived a most harmonious married life for forty-two years. Tae
14, 1943. Edgar F. Davis died in a tractor accident on the farm. Nov. 17, 1943, 0 n
Pond died suddenly. Robert F. Davis married Elsie Sunde June 25, 1932. Robert died
very suddenly Feb. 16, 1965 leaving his wife, a daughter Merlyn D. Johnson and her
husband Dr. Lyman W. Johnson; two granddaughters, Holly and Cynthia Johnson; a son
Ralph Robert, Walnut Creek, Calif. and a grandson Todd Kelley Davis.
Mary Charlotte Davis married Clark Rufus Baird, May 25, 1937. Clark died Nov. 20,
1948. Their children are: Charles Guert Baird married to Carol L. Fisher; and Charlotte
Berdella Fenton, divorced, with two sons: Christopher Paul Fenton and David Clark
Fenton.
Mary D. Baird still lives on the home place which has been in the family over 100
years, and in the house that was built in 1836 by William Barnes, who at the time he sold
his property moved to the state of Washington.
HOW THE TOWN WAS NAMED
“Rutland, the shire town of Rutland County was granted a charter September 7, 1761
by Governor Benning Wentworth to Col. Josiah Willard of Winchester, New Hampshire.
The first named grantee of the charter was John Murray, an influential citizen of
Rutland, Mass. and without doubt he gave the name to the township, although he nor
anyone of the other grantees ever settled within its limits. Murray sold his right in
Rutland - about 350 acres - for two Shillings or at the rate of ten acres for one cent."’
THREE TOWNS FROM ONE
“In the year 1886 residents of the western part of the town of Rutland asked the
General Assembly to set them off as a town by themselves. A similar request was made
by citizens of the northern part of the town. The Legislature on November 19, 1886 set
off and incorporated as the town of West Rutland about one-third of the town of Rutland
on the west side. By an act approved November 18, 1886 they set off from the north
portion some six square miles which together with a smal! amount taken from the town
of Pittsford was incorporated as the town of Proctor.’’
WHEN THE CITY AND TOWN SEPARATED
The city of Rutland was incorporated November 19, 1892. It comprises the original
village of Rutland, which the city succeeds, together with about as much more territory
taken from the town of Rutland outside the village limits. The city contains about eight
and one-quarter square miles. The greatest distances are north and south three and one
tenth miles and east and west three and one-tenth miles. The remainder of the original
Town of Rutland extends all around the city varying in width from one-quarter to two
and one-half miles.’
Historical Rutland - written and compiled by Rev. F.E. Davison
Phil Brehmer, Rutland, Vt.
The Tuttle Co. printers
When the boundary lines were adjusted and readjusted following the separation of Rutland City and Rutland Town
in 1893, the present home of John and Bertha (Morehouse) Davidson was one of the buildings which went from Town to
City and back to Town again without leaving its foundation,
Phatn Av Warran Nawta-
Built and dedicated 1967. This new Central schoo! su
points in the Town.
RUTLAND TOWN ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
perceded all the smal! schoolhouses located at various
a Se
PAGE FROM THE RUTLAND TOWN REPORT 1893
The following shows a list of the school districts just prior to the separation of the Town and City.
SCHOOL DISTRICT.
Chaffee
Dyer “cs “cc
North St. fe es
Lester ta ise
Post ““ oe
C. Rutland ‘ ¢
Billings se
Pennock uw
layti o 8
Mill Village ©“
Dist. No.
bo
ww
TOWN SCHOOL STATISTICS, 1892-1898.
PRUDENTIAL COMMITTEE.
Messrs. Chaffee, Crowley and
Clark.
Messrs. Dyer,
Congdon.
Messrs. Edson,
Dunklee.
H. E, Colburn.
W. C. Davis.
P. U. Barrett.
Woodruff and
Pratt and
TL. IT. Stratton.
A. L, Gillam.
Hl. E. Seward.
B. I. Farmer.
oo
\
i
|
PRESENT THACHRR.
Miss Mary E. Kingsley.-
Nellie Crowley.....
Jennie B. Hart, ....
r. John Davis......0+-
iss Emma Pierce (ass’t)
Bertha Dexter......
Hattie Gibson.....
Elizabeth Smith..
Mary F. Meldon..
Lizzie } McDonald .. new
Maggie Callahan...
Kate Lamb. -++++> 2
Caddie Sleeper.....
Edith M. Jackson..
Grace Estabrook...
Sue Brown.....-+-
|
Submitted by Mary D. Baird
Ely od
9 ale |e %
a g ae 2 a NEEDS.
Sale O|f fi
wn ee)
4)" b
a) o<
50} 35) 20/ New desks, Stationery,
Text Books.
50; 35| 28) Stationery, Text Books,
32] 33] 26) New Desks,Blackboards,
Maps, Chart.
50} 50) 43) Chart.
40; 34) 20) Chart.
32} 18] 17
24, 20) 15
40} 33) 30 Maps, Blackboards.
40) 27} 24) Maps, Blackboards.
40| 23) 20) 9 Blackboards.
40; 60) 88) ~~ Blackboards.
28) 10 8
1G) 7} Al Chart, Dictionary.
24) 13! 91 Dlackboards, Chart.
30; 13) 1
636] 401] 322
RUTLAND TOWN SCHOOLS 1892 - 1893
The preceding page is taken from the 1893 Rutland Town Report. It lists ten school
districts. The separation of Rutland City and Rutland Town Schools that year left seven
in the town, namely District 2, 4, 5, 12, 13, 15, 16. The new city boundaries of 1893 em-
braced Chaffee (Dist. 1) North Street (Dist. 3) and Center Rutland (Dist. 11). The citys
acquisition of Center Rutland School represented such an excessive loss to the Town
that it was returned and boundary lines resurveyed.
The following is a brief collection of information regarding the Rutland Town School
system. There were only four of the original districts in existence prior to the opening
of the new Elementary Schoo! in 1967.
Dist. 2 - Dyer - Located south of the city on the east side of Rt. 7 just below the
Cold River Road turn. Under a W.P.A. project, a room was added in 1938 - 39. The
The Town paid $300 for the lot July 18, 1871. In 1967 it was sold to the Sun Oil Co. for
the amount of $72,000. The building was torn down and a gas station now stands on
the site.
Dist. 4 - Lester (Cheney Hill) - There have been three Cheney Hill School sites. The
building at the foot of Rt. 7 now owned by Mary Lewis was the second site. The first
was on the opposite side of the road just south of the house on the corner. In 1941 a new
building was built on Cedar Ave. which was occupied until 1967 when the new E lemen-
tary School on Post Road was built. It is still owned by Rutland Town and has undergone
recent repairs in anticipation of a Kindergarten.
Dist. 5 - Post (sometimes called Blake School) - Is located on the west side of the
road at the intersection of Park Lane and Reservoir Road. A very old school it closed in
1949 and was sold. It is now undergoing an extensive remodelling as a private dwelling.
Dist. 11 ~ Center Rutland (see photo of first schoo! located on left of present Town
Hall site.) - When the Town and City separated in 1893 the new boundaries put the first
Center Rutland Schoo! inside the City lines. The City managed the school, ‘‘modified
somewhat in favor of the town’’ until July 1, 1895. At that time the Legislature set back
a part of the City to the Town again. An agreeable financial settlement was reached.
In 1897 the School report notes an ‘‘unhealthy lack of ventilation in the school’’. In
January 1908 the first schoo! burned. The Town purchased a lot adjoining the old site
from Vermont Marble Co. for $250.00. A store had formerly stood there.
The new school was practically ready in October 1908 when a fire of suspicious origin
caused severe damage to the building. Classes that had been meeting in a barn found
occupancy of the new school further delayed. On January 4, 1909 the new school Opened.
The insurance company refused to insure after the second fire because no measures had
been taken to prevent further arson. A Pinkerton detective from New York spent two
months investigating at a cost of $430.00 to the Town. He uncovered no evidence. It was
the largest of all the town schools with four classrooms on one floor and the Town Hall
below. It remained in use until 1967, the opening of RTES. When the new Elementary
School became crowded it was again used briefly for classes. The upper floor has been
remodeled for use as Town Offices. The Hall is still used as a polling place.
i illi i i ildi i land originally part of the Barker
Dist. 12 - Billings - This brick building is on ie |
Crampton property. Located on the corner of Campbell Road and Creek Road it poet
the private dwelling of Anthony Belock. It closed as a school in 1906 and was bui
1865.
Dist. 13 - Pennock (Curtis, Pinney) - This school was located in the Sand Hill area
of the Chittenden Road on the north side just south of property of Paul Whittemore. We
know that classes were held up to 1904. The building is gone.
Dist. 15 - Hayti (now spelled Haiti) - Located on the south side of Route ae ta
intersection of Post Road Extension and Route 4. This site was purchased - : ene
Town for a school in 1821. It burned in the early Winter of 1903 anda new oe i —
built in 1904 to replace the old one on the same site. Haiti was featured oo . a
sue 1947 of Vermont Life. It closed as a schoo! in 1967 and is now rented by the
to A.C.F. Precision Surveys Inc.
Dist. 16 - Mill Village (Glen Mills) ~ An 1869 Atlas of Rutland Town shows the Mil}!
Village School on the north side of McKinley Ave. just beyond the bridge bes ae
occupied by Ted Hendees garage. The Mill-Pond dam below the bridge io ries be
the water 12 feet deep next to the schoolyard. The second school was ae . ne ee
side of McKinley Ave. at the foot of the hill. This schoo! was closed and sold in s
Jt is now owned by Mrs. Philip Quirk and adjoins her property.
Information from old Rutland Town Reports, Town Bicentennial Committee members and
Edmund Sargent.
nee
MILL VILLAGE SCHOOL
THE POST ROAD SCHOOL 1919
In September of 1919 | started my first year of school in the Post Road School. This
was a one-room schoolhouse where approximately 30 children in grades from first through
eight were taught Spelling, Writing, Reading, History and Arithmetic by one teacher,
Miss Agnes Sargent. Every morning we would salute the American flag and sing this
little song:
‘*Good morning to you
Good morning to you
We're all in our places
With bright, smiling faces
And this is the way
To start a new day.”’
There was no running water for drinking purposes in the school so every Monday
morning Miss Sargent would select pupils to get fresh water every day for the week.
They would take a pail to a nearby farmhouse, fill it with fresh, spring water and take
it back to the schoolhouse where it was then emptied into a tank.
One morning in February a snowstorm started and grew worse during the forenoon. By
noon the wind was blowing hard and the snow was beginning to drift in the road. By mid-
dle afternoon the storm was severe, and having no telephone in the schoolhouse Miss
Sargent sent one of the bigger boys to his home nearby to telephone for help in getting
the children home. Arthur Hawley hitched a pair of big horses to a pair of long sleds and
drove to the schoolhouse. AI! the schoolchildren and the teacher were put on the sleds,
the small children being wrapped in heavy blankets which Mr. Hawley had taken with him.
Each child was taken to its home and Miss Sargent was taken to a large home in the
neighborhood and given a hot, homecooked supper and kept overnight.
written by Verna Hawley Sprague
POST SCHOOL - 1940’s
Agnes Sargent on steps Photo loaned from J. May Davis
CENTER RUTLAND SCHOOL AND TOWN HALL BUILT 1908
Previous Page: OLD CENTER RUTLAND SCHOOL at far left. Store on site of present
TOWN HALL. Entrance to EVERGREEN CEMETERY in foreground.
Rutland Herald, May 30, 1955
THIS | SAW
To the Editor of The Herald: As | entered Evergreen
Cemetery Friday afternoon | saw a very large number of
boys and girls coming over the rise at my left. There must
have been 100 or more, walking rapidly but quietly, some
carrying a lilac, some a small flag. They were led by three
big boys, one with a large American flag, another with a
light blue flag and the third carrying a bugle. They step-
ped quickly, but quietly. There was no fooling or rough-
housing. Straight across the cemetery they went, to the
far right, following the road, not walking on the graves.
While | waited for them to pass, | saw them turn at right
angles, directed by two women, and on down the road to a
place where they formed a large square group. | followed
along, wondering, and asked the last two boys, ‘‘What is
this?"’
“It's the Center Rutland School’' he said, ‘‘We come
every year. Nobody ever goes to the Potter’s Field so we
come every year.’
After what seemed from my distance to be a short cer-
emony, | heard taps.
Then quietly and quickly they walked back the way
they had come, leaving me deeply impressed.
FLORENCE R. SAWYER
Scenes from one of the many programs that took place in the Town Hall. Teachers are
Samuel Cotrupi (standing) Doris Geno (at piano). Pictures taken in 1962.
READ AT DEDICATION EXERCISES OF NEW
CHENEY HILL SCHOOL
December 11, 1941
written by Pauline Lester Williams
{ expect most of you here, donot know that our old school house used to stand on the
opposite side of the road, just south of the new house on the corner. In those good old
times school kept six instead of five days. Why, it was moved to its present site, | do
not know or cannot find out for sure; but as someone said ‘‘probably because it was
dryer,’’ if so it seemed like jumping from the frying pan into the fire.
| think the town has a deed to the schoo! lot made about eighty years ago; somewhere
near the time the old red school house was moved to the four corners.
The schoo! then used the old board seats, | have talked with people who used to sit
in them and did not mind if they seemed a little hard and uncomfortable.
At this time, big boys would enter for the winter term. We have all heard tales of
their cut ups.
This little story was told to me by a women who went to school about sixtyfive years
ago. She was just a tiny tot then, but remembers clearly about the little scene. One big
boy (who is a good neighbor not far away) loved a little joke now and then as well as his
lessons. One day this big boy had over stepped, and teacher, her name was Viny Greene,
made him sit by her desk; but sitting by her desk was only play. As she went past him,
out shot his foot, and down went teacher. She clinched but he was quicker and pushed her
to the side of the room. Probably more punishment followed but this little girl was so
frightened, she couldnt remember what came next.
This same women tells about the time she remembers when the school teacher was
sick and her brother came to substitute. One boy became unruly, so the teacher grabbed
him by the collar, yanked him out of his seat with such force, that his boot heels left
dents in the back of the seat.
It seems queer that when | ask some of the older folks what they can remember about
early school days, these funny incidents are the things they recall first. | suppose les-
sons were absorbed naturally but the pranks were sort of outstanding.
This same Viny Greene wore a glass eye; one morning she came to school with only
one eye. She had forgotten to make proper connections it seems. She sent one of the
big boys to her boarding place after it. {! have heard of a thousand dollar eye being kept
in a velvet case, but this one came to school in a paper bag; held at arm’s length, as
though it might bite.
Since these earlier days some improvements had been made. | think about 1880. Dea-
con Curtis of Rutland city taught at that time. New seats, teachers desk and chair had
been added. Mr. Curtis at that time was seventeen years old. He used to go to school
in the Curtis district on Sand Hill and attended Rutland High for a time. He is nearing
his eightieth birthday but still can recall clearly the names of the children who went to
him. They are Anna and Etta Lester, Harry Lester, Grace Thomas, Jamie and Mary
Kellogg, Louise Dickeman, Lizzie and Henry Sears, Emma, Mamie and Charles White.
Some Mooney children who lived where Livaks are now living. | think these names will
mean more to some of the older folks.
As the pupils sit at these new desks made for two and examine books and work ma-
terial, they marvel at the improvements made in the new text books. They find the
Franklin readers, arithmetic, spelling, grammar, histories, geography, writing or copy
books and physiology, every Friday afternnon.
Slates were used earlier and even now chills run up and down my spine when | re-
member the slate pencil screeching across the slate. When slates were being used the
usual question was, “‘Teacher may | wet my sponge?’’ If the sponge was missing, we
would use what nature had provided for such cases.
Just a word about punishments. Teachers were fortunate in these days. They could
devise all ways of punishing their pupils without fear of court proceedings. One method
was to sharpen a lead pencil very, very sharp; call the boy or girl to the front of the room
and proceed to bore their ear, the pupil would carry the pencil mark for a number of days.
Another in regard to chewing gum is not very nice, and certainly most unsanitary. When
a pupil was caught chewing gum, he was promptly told to deposit the gum on the teacher’s
desk. The next culprit was obliged to chew both his gum and the gum on deposit; this
also was laid away until the next; you can imagine the size it may have grown. Finally
one girl broke down and cried and refused to chew. That was the end of this sort of
punishment. | don’t think there were germs in those days or perhaps we were a healthy
bunch of youngsters. At any rate | never heard of any diseases being spread by the gum
chewing act. Of course staying in recesses and most of the noon hour, writing mottoes
on the blackboard a hundred times or more and a few ferulings now and then were rather
tame beside the older punishment.
One last look at the old school and then the pictures will be hung on memory's wall.
A group of country boys and girls playing in the school yard, girls with long braids,
dresses well down over the knees and stockings (heavy wool in winter) well up over
knees. Boys are wearing full blouses, which were a good receptacle for most anything.
Soon the bell is ringing and the children rush into the entry, long narrow rooms on either
side of the door. Girls hang coats on one side boys on the other. The wood box is in the
boy’s end. A row of dinner pails on the floor. Entering the school room the children pass
the teacher's desk on the platform and go to their seats. The sun is shining nice and
warm in south windows. The blackboard, door and teacher's desk are on the west side;
Windows on the other sides and kerosene lamps in brackets at each window. On the
east side a chimney boarded up, a relic of many years ago, with its many carved initials.
If we listen carefully we can almost hear the teacher. ‘'The fifth class in reading will
now recite.’’ The children take their places on the long recitation bench, boys on one
end, girls on the other. So all day classes will be called out to the old bench.
Let us not forget the old cast iron box stove, with stove pipe running nearly across
the room. How many times on cold winter mornings the old recitation bench has been
drawn up before the stove, with a row of youngsters warming their feet. The stove would
get hotter and hotter and the children would move back inch by inch; until finally they
had taken thier seats.
Oh yes, the old water pail and dipper standing on the platform and again we hear,
‘Teacher may | pass the water?’’ Gaining permission the pail goes the rounds, each
one drinking from the same dipper, and how refreshing it was on a hot summer day.
Once more we sit in our old seats and can see the faces of our old playmates and
dream of the happy carefree days of long ago. Skating on Kellogg’s dam, sliding down
Cheney Hill, gathering wild flowers in the swamp and picking the tender wintergreen
leaves, playing under the spreading maple tree by the brook and jumping from the big rock.
We will not dream any longer but just one more look at the old chimney, with the initials
of many of the older boys and girls and try to think if there isn't someone who has gone
out into the world and become famous. Perhaps not, but this | do know that there are a
great many loyal men and women who have made our community what it is and we are
proud of this inheritance.
The shadows are lengthening, the room is growing dark, tread softly to the door and
close it gently. Always will we cherish the memories of the Little Red School House
that turned white, at the foot of Cheney Hill.
OLD CHENEY HILL SCHOOL AT FOOT OF HILL ON ROUTE 7
Photo from Vera Fish
ONCE UPON A SCHOOLDAY 1939
By Faye Smith
The spring of 1939 found Vermont still snarled in the web of the Depression. The
weary, ragged tramps that headed south when chill Canadian air swept down the valley in
the fall, now reversed direction and shuffled north again. |! met them daily on my way
home from the Cheney Hill School. Six years old; the only first grader in the eight-grade
schoolroom, it had been for me a year of great fulfillment. At last | had crashed into the
world of freshly sharpened pencils, blue-lined paper and books. Books | could read!
Like a bear in a honey tree | was eating into the printed page with an appetite that knew
no bounds. My ever present fear of falling into the yawning, black depths of the chemical
toilet had diminished somewhat.
It was early May. The ice was long gone from the little brook beyond the schoolyard.
Big glass jars that had held frogs eggs on the bookshelf now teemed with lively tad-
poles. The children no longer brought a potato to bake on the top of the stove for lunch.
On warmer days we let the fire in the stove go out. The vases that had held pussy-
willows now displayed violets, adders tongues, and mayflowers.
Our desks assumed the look of stanchions to us and we welcomed every chance
available to be outdoors. There was no lack of volunteers to clap erasers or go fora
pail of drinking water up the hill to Wallace Fishes house.
Outside in the schoolyard we played Kick - The - Can and Giant Steps. The older
boys brought baseballs and gloves. Sometimes an over - exuberant wrestling match turned
into a fight, but all activity was reluctantly abandoned at the end of the noon recess.
Once inside it was difficult to keep my attention from straying to the windows where
a pair of foolhardy swallows were building a nest in the hollow swingpole. The fragrance
of moist, plowed earth and blossoming shad drifted in.
The Italian women from the city had come as they always did to dig dandelion greens
in Murphys meadow above the school. My reverie was suddenly shattered by a sharp rap-
ping which sent the teacher, Miss Ilona Woods hurrying to the door. She opened it.toa
bundle of fury; a little old Italian woman, her face as brown and wrinkled as a nut shell,
white hair tossed askew by the wind and fire in her eyes. She waved a knife menacingly
at the teachers throat. The teacher was very pale and a frightened silence fell on the
class. The visitor let loose with a barrage of Italian of which noone understood a word.
At least | thought noone did. There were some boys who could have interpreted her wrath,
but they were keeping very quiet.
Getting no satisfaction, the old lady's anger mounted and she gestered more wildly
with the knife. | was sure my dear teacher was going to be stabbed before my eyes. Ap-
parently others thought so too, because one of the older boys spoke up and very un-
comfortably admitted that he thought she was looking for her bottle of wine. What bottle?
Well - - - - the one the boys had taken out of a burlap bag on a stone wall by the school.
There were a number of boys faces as red as - - - - wine.
There was a mumbled explanation about ‘‘not much left’’ and ‘‘took it home"’. Sur-
prisingly the old woman appeared to understand and her fury quite spent she left. An
audible sigh escaped from the class.
In 1941 the Old Cheney Hil! Schoo! closed and a new one was built on Cedar Avenue.
In good Yankee tradition however the old one was sold and recycled into a private home
now owned by Mary Lewis.
CHENEY HILL SCHOOL BUILT 1941 ON CEDAR AVE.
Photo from Lyn Letourneau
RUTLAND TOWN’S GLEAMING NEW $675,000 SCHOOL IS NEARLY READY
Workmen are putting the final touches on Rutland Town’s new $675,000 elementary
school. The Post Road structure will be ready when classes begin Sept. 6.
The new school will replace four outmoded wooden schoolhouses.
The rambling brick structure has facilities for physical education, science, home
economics, shop, art, and a large library.
A lobby, faced with blue-gray Vermont slate, separates the five primary classrooms
and a large kindergarten classroom from the main section of the building.
Five middle-grade classrooms are located in the main section of the building. The
center of the T-shaped building also includes a science laboratory, health room, arts and
crafts room, home economics room, teacher’s room, offices and the library.
The southwest corner of the building contains the auditorium, cafeteria, kitchen, boys’
and girls' lockers rooms, and a lobby.
The six kindergarten and primary grade rooms each contain toilet facilities and a
sink.
The school has a large central office which will contain an office for Miss Ann Reilly,
school principal. a conference room, and a private office.
The 3,600 volume library has paneled walls and wall-to-wall carpeting.
The science room contains 12 stone-topped workbenches, a teacher’s bench, five ex-
periment tables each with a gas jet and water taps, and an aquarium. More workbenches
may be added. A foundation has been laid outside the science room for the planned ad-
dition of a small greenhouse.
The shop to be used by Grades 7 and 8, contains lathes, saws, and other power tools
for woodworking and metalworking classes. A wash basin and two rooms for the storage
of tools has also been set aside there.
The homemaking room, to be used for the girls’ home economics classes has four
separate kitchen units, each containing sinks, stoves, and cabinets, and a large area to
to be used for instruction of sewing and child care.
The school also has set aside a special classroom for remedial reading. The arts
and crafts room has many easels for art classes and tables and workbenches for other
craft classes.
The auditorium features a regulation size basketball! court and a stage. Two rooms
have been provided off the stage - one for storage and the other for a practice room by
school musicians.
Town voters approved a $479,000 bond issue in September, 1965, to finance the con-
struction of the school.
The remainder of the total cost was covered by state building aid funds.
About 310 pupils from Rutland Town will attend the new school, which replaces
Center Rutland, Haiti, Cheney Hill, and Dyer Schools.
RUTLAND DAILY HERALD Wednesday Morning, August 23, 1967
DYER SCHOOL
THE CHURCH AT CENTER RUTLAND
“The land for the church at Center Rutland and that for the graveyard next to the
church was probably given by William Gookin.
The lumber was given by members and friends and most of the work was done by them-
selves.
The church was the usual type of those days. At the time of building the seats faced
the doors, and the choir was in the gallery back of the pulpit. The pulpit was between
the two doors opening into the vestibule.
Later the church was repaired, the pulpit being placed Opposite the doors and the
seats turned around and made more comfortable by cushions. These being made by the
women of the congregation.
At this time the church was quite pretentious being well furnished; the platform and
aisles being covered with red carpeting and the pulpit top with red veivet. A horse hair
sofa was on the platform. It was lighted by a center chandelier ornamented with glass
prisms.
The basement was used for prayer meetings and class meetings.
After the Ripleys came to Rutland they were a great help in this church; Mrs. Jane
Ripley being an earnest worker as long as church services were held there. At one time
some of those that sang in the choir were Mary Ripley, Helen Ripley, Horace Graham, and
others. The music was said to have been very good.
The last time the church was opened for public worship was for a memorial service
for Mr. and Mrs. Fisher (Mary Ripley) who were lost at sea (1873).
At this time the church was draped in black, the bier being placed in front of the
alter and covered with flowers.
The Vermont Marble Co. bought the property about 1882 and remodeled the church into
astore. Mr. H.C, Harris formed a partnership with the Vermont Marble Co. and was the
first to occupy it.
The building was destroyed by fire in 1908.
The Center Rutland Schoolhouse now stands on almost the exact spot where the
church stood."’
Contributed by Bertha Davidson
written by her mother Nellie Shedd Morehouse
Note: A picture of the building is shown in the section on old schools. It is the large
store on the west of the first Center Rutland School.
THE MILL VILLAGE CHAPEL
The chape! was built on a bluff at the fork of the Chittenden and Pittsford Roads. On
an afternoon in November, 1896 members of the King’s Daughters, the Mil! Village
Christian Endeavor Society, and friends gathered for a dedication of their new building.
This day they realized plans that had begun four years previous when the King’s Daugh-
ters had pledged $15 for a building fund. Now after many fund-raising suppers and sales
of fancy articles, the combined efforts of the King’s Daughters and the Sunday School had
born fruit. They were justifiably proud as the Prudential Committee report revealed the
entire cost of the building to be $1075. The main building was 32 by 24 feet and the
annex 16 by 24 feet. The interior consisted of an audience room large enough to com-
fortably seat 175 persons, a dining room, kitchen and cloakroom.
The land for the chapel was given by Edgar Davis. One hundred and thirteen chairs
had been purchased by the society and sold to individuals at one dollar each, the name
of the owner printed on strips of russet leather and fastened to the back of the chairs.
The initials Y.P.S.C.E. and the Maltese Cross bearing letters ‘‘I.H.N.’’ were perforated
on the back of the chairs. There was a new chandelier, furniture for the pulpit, anda
new furnace. The anticipation that had begun in July with the laying of the cornerstone
of dark Columbian marble now culminated with the dedication service followed by an
evening social. They enthusiastically made plans to add horsesheds for hitching horses
directly across from the chapel on Rt. 7.
Many years have passed since that November afternoon. The country has known two
World Wars, a Depression, a boom in population, an ever-increasing pace of living but
the chapel has stood firmly, serenely facing the oncoming traffic. The horsesheds which
were built, blew down in 1931 and were sold for salvage, the privy in the northeast corner
of the chapel has been replaced with flush toilets. The black, iron cookstove that took
an active part in so many suppers withdrew from the scene when the kitchen was re-
modelled. A book given in memory of Anna Young records the many gifts and donations
received over the years by the chapel. The present piano was obtained by a contest
sponsored by Clausons Shoe Store in Rutland. So many credits were given for every pair
of shoes purchased at the store. The end prize to be the piano. Many neighbors and
friends bought their shoes there and pooled their credits. We do not know if the credits
alone bought the piano. No record of money paid for it has been found. The story goes
that Mr. Clauson was interested in the chapel and helped steer the piano our way.
There is a timelessness about the chapel. It has seen the little children that shyly
spoke their Christmas pieces and cavorted over the stage at chapel suppers grow to
awkward adolescence. It has followed them to maturity, witnessed their wedding parties;
and seen the whole cycle rerun again when they brought their new babies who very soon
were able to shyly speak a piece and cavort on the stage. It has missed the old, famil-
iar faces when they were no longer present.
All in all it seems that the faith of the community at that dedication in 1896 has been
confirmed for the chape! has been in continuous use ever since. The Sunday School
classes have met on Sunday mornings for four generations. The Mill Village Daughters
and Sons true to their motto, ‘‘In His Name”’ still hold their meetings and suppers in
the belief that the world is a little better if you can sit down with your neighbor once
a month to share a homemade pie.
written by Faye R. Smith
with information form Rutland Herald Clippings
July 23, 1896
Nov. 24, 1896
Chapel Assoc. History
by Mary Baird and Sherwin & Elrena Williams
HISTORY OF THE MISSION COVENANT CHURCH
CENTER RUTLAND, VERMONT
It was in 1889 that a small group of Mission Friends, under the leadership of Rev.
Louis Grelander, joined together to form what was then known as the Swedish Evan-
gelical Congregational Mission Church of Center Rutland. Prior to that time, a few
interested folk had been meeting for worship in West Rutland. It was also in 1889 that
a plot of land to be used for a church building was donated by the Vermont Marble Com-
pany and the foundation was laid the same year. A subscription was taken to finance the
erection of the building. Nearly $600 was subscribed, much of which was contributed by
American friends including Senator Redfield Proctor who gave $250.
After Pastor Grelander’s resignation in 1890, a layman, John Erickson, carried on
the preaching duties until 1891 when Rev. S.J. Blomquist assumed the pastorate of the
Center Rutland and Proctor churches. During his ministry, the church building, in which
we still worship today, was completed and dedicated on July 24, 1892.
tn 1894, Pastor Blomquist returned to Sweden and was succeeded by Rev. C. J.
Anderson who carried on the work for eight years. Short ministries by G. A. Quarnstrom
and A. F. Tornblom followed by the pastorate of Rev. Gustaf Wiman who moved to this
area in October, 1903, and continued in the work until 1909. At that time, Rev. C. J.
Wahlstrom accepted a call and served the church until 1912.
The next pastor was Rev. J. M. Hendrickson who remained only one year. His suc-
cessor was Rev. Alex Strandin who continued as pastor until 1918. Following his min-
istry, the church was not able to secure a pastor for about a year. Then, Rev. Frank
Lindberg accepted a call but remained less than a year.
In 1920, Rev. Charles Swanson became the pastor and served the church faithfully
for twenty-seven years. Pastor Swanson submitted his resignation in 1944 but continued
his ministry until 1947 when he and Mrs. Swanson left to live with their children. After
much illness, Pastor Swanson died in 1953. The funeral services were held in the Center
Rutland Church on May 23, 1953, with buria! in the Proctor cemetery.
Following Pastor Swanson’s resignation no new pastor was called but Mr. Carl Hector
carried on the preaching duties and various ministers from churches in the Eastern Mis-
sionary Association came and conducted Sunday services from time to time.
In 1951, following an offer of aid by the Eastern Missionary Association, the church
called Rev. S. Jerome Johnson, who was then a student at North Park Theological Sem-
inary. Rev. Johnson was pastor of the church for one year. During his ministry, several
who had formerly been members of the Proctor church joined the Center Rutland church.
Two societies, the J.O.Y. Circle and the Brotherhood, were organized at that time. Rev.
Johnson ended his ministry in June, 1952, and Rev. James Anderson, another intern from
North Park Seminary took up the work. Pastor Anderson stayed until September 1, 1954.
in December, 1954, Elwood daBraal, a student at the North Park Theological Seminary
also came and stayed until May, 1956. In July, 1956 David Sandquest came and stayed
until June, 1958. From 1958 until now, the Rev. Lamphere has served this loyal group
of church members. Though small in numbers, this church plays a vital role in the lives
of these people.
Clarence G. Olsen
Center Rutland, Vt.
July 7, 1975
=
‘* UPON THIS ROCK ”’
The Diocese of Boston which was formed in 1808 included all of New England. Be-
cause of the slow but steady increase in the Catholic population in Vermont, Bishop
Benedict Fenwick of Boston decided to send a priest to this mission area as soon as one
was available. During a visit to New York he was approached by Rev. Jeremiah
O'Callaghan, who offered his services to the Bishop.
Father O’Callaghan’s background is worth recalling. He was born in County Kerry,
Ireland in 1780 and was ordained to the priesthood for the Diocese of Cloyne in 1805.
Father O’Callaghan served as an assistant pastor when banking and the practice of
lending money at interest was in its infancy. Father O’Callaghan regarded this practice
as usury and condemned it as immoral. His extreme views on this question which he did
not hesitate to proclaim publicly brought him into disfavor with his bishop and he was
discharged from service in his native diocese.
Bishop Fenwick was impressed with the character and zeal for souls of this exiled
priest, who at age fifty gladly accepted the arduous assignment of ministering to the
spiritual needs of the Catholic people who had settled in the territory which Samuel de
Champlain, the French explorer had fittingly named, the Green Mountains - Vermont.
On July 6, 1830 Fr. O'Callaghan left for Vermont to begin his missionary duties. Fr.
O'Callaghan was the first priest to visit Rutland in the summer of 1830 where he offered
Mass in a private home. Travelling by stagecoach, horse and buggy, and horse back he
visited the Catholics scattered in the various areas of the state and came to Rutland
four or five times a year.
Aware of the toll exorted by the incessant travel and advancing age of Father O’
Callaghan, Bishop Fenwick endeavored to provide him with an equally zealous co-worker.
In 1837 the Bishop found such a priest in the person of Fr. John B. Daly, a Franciscan
priest recently received into the Boston Diocese. Father Daly was sent to Vermont to
assist Fr. O’Callaghan and the large territory was divided. Father O’Callaghan taking
charge of the northern section and Father Daly the southern part of the state.
Father Daly visited Rutland about once a month. When the congregation increased
beyond the capacity of a private home, he offered Mass in a building known as ‘‘Ball
Alley’’ on Main St. It is interesting to note that these pioneer priests received no salary
or stipends. For their livelihood they depended solely upon free will offerings.
The Catholic population increased slowly in Rutland. After the failure of Irelands
potato crop in 1846, the exodus from that country brought countless thousands to the
eastern seaboard. Although most of the immigrants settled in Boston and New York, some
ventured west and north. In 1884 the railroads were being built in Vermont and laborers
mostly Irish were hired in gangs by the builders. Since Rutland emerged as a railroad
center, many of these men settled in the Rutland area finding employment on the rail-
roads, in the machine shops and in the marble industry which began to flourish in the
1850's.
By 1853 there were 20,000 Catholics in Vermont and the Diocese of Burlington was
established on July 25, 1853. The new diocese comprised the entire state. Father Louis
DeGoesbriand, the chancellor of the Diocese of Cleveland, Ohio was appointed as its
first bishop and on Nov. 6, 1853 was formally installed as Bishop of Burlington.
_ The preceeding information is an excerpt from ‘‘The History of St. Peter’s Church”
written by Father Patrick Hannon of that parish and reprinted here with his permission.
THE STORY OF THE HOMESTEAD OF ABRAHAM W. WHITING, POST ROAD
A young Englishman, by the name of Abraham Whiting enlisted in the United States
Army, Co. F, 2nd Regiment, N. Y. Cavalry, August 21, 1861. He fought in the Civil War
and was honorably discharged. While on leave from the fighting, he had the unique ex-
perience of having his palm read by a gypsy fortune teller. It was prophesized that he
would return to Vermont, meet a young girl whom he had known from his childhood and
marry her. He would also buy a farm with a brook running through the field and a large
house similar to George Washington’s Mt. Vernon residence that would stand facing south
and be the home of his children and grandchildren. After his discharge, he travelled to
Wisconsin, through the southern states and then into the New England States seeking he
knew not what. Often, the fortune teller’s prophecy came to mind and he finally did re-
turn to Vermont where he met his future wife, Mary Ann Hewitt, who he used to tease
when she was a little girl. They had two children by their marriage, Samuel Edwin and
Anna Eliza. Their son, Samuel, died at the age of 16 of pneumonia, leaving Anna Eliza
to become sole heir of the property upon the death of her father in 1915.
Abe obtained employment with the Clements family in Center Rutland as a gardener,
setting out the ceder hedges which bordered the Clements property. He was also looking
for a homestead. The fortune teller’s words still haunted him until he finally located a
small farm on Post Road for sale. [t was very much like she had described. So, on
October 17, 1883, Abraham Whiting bought the farm from Edgar S. Nelson and Samuel
Haywood.* This same land had been sold to Mr. Nelson by Hiram Cheney and wife on
February 3, 1881.* The history of the house from 1779 to 1881 is vague.
The land was bounded on the north by the Luther Eastman property, south by the
Post Road, east by the Ira W. Hawley property and west by the John H. Crampton and
John M. Noyes lands.
Upon inquiring, Abe Whiting understood that in the 1780's two young men by the names
of Jeramiah Long and Alpha Post were travelling in Vermont, looking for farm land to
build upon. They decided to settle in Rutland, building temporary log cabins to live
in while they cleared the land. Alpha Post built his home on what is now known as the
Ray Barker Farm and was recently purchased by Chris and Rosa Benetatos. The road
from the Post’s house to the glen, now known as Mill Village, gradually became known
as Post Road. Jeramiah Long picked a site about a % mile west of his friend’s home and
in 1791 hired Henry Carpenter to build a house which took three years to complete.
It was a large square house with 9 ft. high ceilings. The timbers were rough hewn,
huge beams held with cross beams all fastened together with pins or dowels which were
hand made.
The boards were wide, many 3 feet in width and may be seen in the attic today. There
were fireplaces in each room, built back to back with flues leading into the two large
chimneys. The kitchen was real ‘‘up-to-date’’ with a soapstone fire place and bake oven
in the northeast room. This had been closed in when Mr. Whiting bought the house and
the kitchen rebuilt on the northwest corner of the house, where it is at the present time.
The original fireplace and bake oven are still there and in excellent condition.
The outside walls of the house were stone lined 6 feet up from the foundation, prob-
ably because the original builder had feared Indian raids.
The front yard was terraced and held a stonewall! built along side the road to a height
of about 6 feet. The stonewall is still in tact, showing the remarkable quality of work-
manship. It has stayed in place 184 years with very little repair and much climbing on
by children.
The drive originally went across the terrace by the front door with a side drive going
around to the back barn. The front door was very wide, with side glass and fan glass
window over the top. This was removed when the smal! porch was put onto the front.
Too bad, because it must have been a beautiful entrance to the wide hall and open stair-
way.
Beside the big chimney in the attic, was open space going into the basement with
closets from each room built into it. The children, grandchildren and great grandchildren
of Abe and Mary Whiting often spent rainy days playing in the attic. There were stories
told to us of runaway slaves being hid here during the Civil War. We never knew if they
were true, but it was fun to guess about. Another story oft repeated was that the house
was a stop over tavern for stage coaches passing thru. In the door, between the front
hall and the back area, were heart shaped cut outs with slide covers which ‘‘we are told’’
were used by the help to see who had come in for meals.
The house is presently owned by Mrs. Eleanor Young, widow of Lee Whiting Young,
grandson of Abe Whiting. Lee and Eleanor purchased it from the Anna Whiting Young
Estate and did extensive remodeling. It is in excellent condition and still a big, beautiful
house which is now divided into three apartments.
written by Violet Young Seneca!
* Land Records Rutland Town Vol. 45 page 121
* Land Records Rutland Town Vol. 40 page 541
* (nformation from family notes and stories
Mr. Whiting’s papers
THE ABRAHAM WHITING HOMESTEAD
IMPROVED TOWN ROADS BUILT BY THREE GENERATIONS OF FISH’S
The building and improving of Rutland Town roads has progressed rapidly since 1907.
Marshal! Benjamin Fish moved into the town in 1900 and carried on a dairy farm on the
old Mead farm on South Main Street, then moved to Cheney Hill District in 1907 to the
Alice Thomas farm.
He was elected Road Commissioner many times during a period from 1914 to 1927.
Upon his death in 1928 his son Wallace Kelley Fish was elected continuously as Com-
missioner for thirty years. During that time most all narrow dirt roads were widened and
improved with hard surface tarvia.
After his death in 1965 his son, Marshall Bradley Fish, was elected Commissioner
and road builder. For the last ten years Mr. Fish has directed the construction of ap-
proximately ten miles of new roads and supervised the maintenance of all roads within
the Town.
The office of Rutland Town Road Commissioner has previously been voted on each
year but is no longer. Mr. Fish's title is now Road Foreman as of this year.
COVERED BRIDGES OF EAST CREEK
There are no covered bridges left on East Creek now but once there were four - all
built by the same man, Nicholas Powers of Pittsford. He was born in 1817 ona farm
southwest of Pittsford and served his bridge building apprenticeship under Abraham Owen
of the same town. Before age 21 young Powers contracted to put a covered bridge over
Furnace Brook at Pittsford Mills. Ninety-six years later the bridge was strong enough to
support a twenty-ton steam roller operated by state road builders who came to replace the
span with a concrete structure. This Pittsford bridge made his reputation and in the next
dozen years or so he constructed bridges across Otter Creek, East Creek and Cold River.
He favored the Town Lattice truss, using spruce and hemlock.
TWIN BRIDGES - (crossing at farm of Ernest McKirryher) built by Nicholas Powers. The
first span was built in 1849. The following spring the creek cut around the bridge.
Powers convinced the Selectmen that another span would accommodate the changing
courses of the creek. Second span was built 1850. They were 50 and 60 feet long. The
flood of 1947 swept one span away, the other was salvaged and moved to the east side
of the Chittenden Road where it now houses road equipment.
LESTER BRIDGE - (crossing at the farm of Sherwin Williams) It was built by Nicholas
Powers around 1845, a fine example of Town Lattice trusswork with crisscrossing pat-
tern of planks framing the sides. A simple and strong method of bracing a bridge, it was
the most expensive because it required more lumber than others. It had no mortises or
tenons and called only for ordinary planking. Photo shows bridge as it was being dis-
mantled by government authorities in 1931 prior to replacement by a modern span. (Note
cement work for new bridge at right.)
MILL VILLAGE BRIDGE - (crossing at Ted Hendees garage) another 70 foot long
Powers bridge. It saw many times of high water supported on its abutments of stone
slabs laid ‘‘dry’’ without any cement. It was swept away in the 1947 flood. We donot
know the year of its construction.
OLD ‘‘76’’ BRIDGE - (crossing at Rutland Golf Course) built in 1876 by Powers, a 70
foot span. Many stories surround its secluded setting. In 1908 an ‘talian laborer was
lured into the bridge by a local woman where her companion murdered and robbed him.
The bridge had undergone recent restoration when the 1947 flood demolished it.
TWO VIEWS OF MILL VILLAGE BRIDGE
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LESTER BRIDGE
KB SET MARIE I SS
References:
Covered Bridges of New England; Clara Wagemann
Covered Bridges of the Northeast; Richard Allen
The Covered Bridge; Herbert Congdon
Information from Donald Swan, John H. Francis,
William Sharp, Stanley Mytych
3 VIEWS OF THE TWIN BRIDGES
A BRIDGE TO END BRIDGES
For some years
There had been considerable rivalry
Between the Kelly family and the Billingses.
Each family had its followers
And neither group allowed any chance to pass
To get the better of the other.
While it had started as a family matter,
It gradually got into local politics.
It was a demand of the Kellys
For another bridge across Otter Creek
That stirred up a rumpus at one town meeting.
There was a bridge less than a mile
South of the Kelly farm
And another about the same distance north.
However, the Kellys wanted one so located
That they could go straight to Rutland from their own
farm.
A motion to build such a bridge, made in town meeting,
Had excited debate from both factions.
Just before the vote Avery Billings got the floor.
‘*Mr. Moderator,’’ he said, ‘‘we already have built cov-
ered bridges
At Gookin’s Falls, Ripley’s, Patch’s, Dorr’s and Bill-
ings’ —
Five bridges within two miles."'
He stopped a minute. Then he shouted:
‘*| move we bridge the whole damned creek
Lengthwise."'
The Kellys’ motion was voted down.
by Walter Hard
“Vermont Valley’’ 1939
Roenrintod with narmiesaian af hin Fawile
OTTER CREEK BRIDGES
BILLINGS BRIDGE - Built about 1831 by Timothy K. Horton for the Town of Rutland. It
connected the farms of Avery Billings and Leedo Billings. In the spring floods some-
times the water was as high as the overhanging roof. The weight of the roof slates no
doubt helped to keep the bridge on its abutments. There is a story of how Avery Billings
was set upon by masked men as he drove through the bridge. One leaped from the shadows
to grab the bridle of the horse, while one dropped from the crossbracing onto the wagon.
The horse plunged and bucked as Billings lashed out with the whip at one assailant. The
other lost his grip on the dashboard and was bowled out onto the bridge floor. The farmer
escaped.
Another man Isaac Kelly started out to buy a railroad ticket one night and was never seen
alive again. Days later a trail of bloodstains was found leading from inside the bridge to
a clump of bushes nearby. There lay Kelly’s body. He had been beaten and robbed.
The Billings bridge was burned by vandals on Halloween night 1952.
BILLINGS BRIDGE
DORR BRIDGE - Information sources conflict in regard to the builder of Dorr bridge. Clara
Wagemann in her book ‘‘Covered Bridges of New England"’ states it was built in 1872 by
Nicholas Powers who after starting it became ill. It was finished by his 22 year old son
Charles. Another covered bridge authority, Richard Allen in ‘‘Covered Bridges of the
Northeast’’ says it was built in 1871 by Evelyn Pierpoint. The Rutland Herald column
‘400 Years Ago’' by Charles Conners confirms it was Pierpoint. We would welcome any
further light that might be shed on the subject. (see Bicentennial File, back cover). The
bridge was a 200 foot long span with a central pier. {t derived its name from the Dorr
family as it faced their home. Julia Ripley Dorr was named Vermont’s Poet Laureate.
The 1927 flood swept it off its pier. It took with it Ripley Bridge and a giant iron rail-
road bridge below it. Al! went over the falls at Center Rutland completely demolished.
RIPLEY BRIDGE - Named for the Ripley family, lost in the 1927 flood. We have very lit- = ; = eae . 2 rm | is ahha
tle information about this bridge. a: "er aN eu 0 ’
CENTER RUTLAND FALLS BRIDGE - Our earliest record of a bridge at the falls (for-
merly called Gookins Falls) is that of one built in 1776 by order of Gen. Jeffrey Amherst.
This was not a covered bridge. A clipping in the Rutland Herald of 1874 Dec. 28 tells of
the burning of a wooden bridge at Center Rutland Falls. Its age at that time was stated
to be about 40 years. We could not confirm whether it was only damaged or destroyed.
The covered bridge that you see in the photos may be the repaired structure or a re-
placement. It was absent from the pictures that we saw of the 1927 flood. Sometime pre-
vious to that it was replaced with a steel span.
DORR BRIDGE
——
RAILROAD BRIDGE AT GOOKINS FALLS C. 1869, BEERS ATLAS
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BRIDGE AT CENTER RUTLAND FALLS
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OLD POSTCARD FROM EARLY 1900’S
RAILROAD BRIDGE AND STEEL BRIDGE OVER ROUTE 4 AT CENTER RUTLAND
A JOURNEY FROM CZECHOSLOVAKIA
Reflecting upon what made America the country that it is as we approach its 200th
birthday, | would have to say that one very important part of it was the courage of the
inany people who left their homelands in search of a new country, new ideals, and new
dreams. Of course, this started with the pilgrims, but the great variety of life of the Amer-
ica we know today comes from its many immigrants throughout the years. Most of us are
quite proud of whatever our heritage is, as it makes us the individuals that we are. | know
| am, and | would like to recount a persona! story of the courage and determination it took
to come to America: that of my Grandmother.
My Grandfather, Michael Livak, first came to the United States from Czechoslovakia
in 1905. He worked in building a railroad tunnel in Pennsylvania and in the coal mines
of Virginia unti! 1908. He then returned to Czechoslovakia to marry Helen Malejko. Then
he came back to the United States to Proctor, Vermont where he got a job with the Vermont
Marble Company.
In the meantime, back in Czechoslovakia, Helen Livak stayed in her village of
Klemoca, and had their first son, John. When John was only one year old, Helen packed
up all of her belongings in a cloth sack that she had made herself, and without her hus-
band knowing it. boarded a ship, with her son, and headed for America.
The courage and determination it must have taken for Helen to do this must have been
incredible. The crossing took 9 days, and of course, Helen knew no one else on the boat.
All of this, plus the added worries of coming to a strange Jand where she would not know
the language, plus the fact that she was arriving in New York, and had absolutely no idea
of how to get to Proctor, Vermont, must have been a phenomenal! feat to face. But, being
a very determined woman, she managed. and managed quite well.
After getting through the customs in New York, the officials there put Helen and her
son on a train for Vermont. All she knew was that she had to go to Proctor, but she had
no idea of where that was. It was at this point that a sheer stroke of luck happened. She
overheard some Polish people in front of her saying that they were heading for Proctor,
Vermont. Being able to understand a little of the Polish language, Helen decided that
she would follow these people, and get off the train where they got off. It was in this
manner that she got to Proctor, Vermont, and found her husband.
Helen and Michael Livak lived in Proctor until June 1919, when they moved to Rutland
Town, where they bought their own farm. All of their children spoke Czechoslovakian
until they entered school, and it was through the children that they learned the English
language.
| am sure there are many other stories that other families have of their parents or
grandparents coming to America. And | am also Sure that each of these stories is equal-
ly interesting, and makes their family as proud of their heritage as | am of mine and my
grandparents, and how they came and started a new life in a new country.
Written by Terri Livak
THE SOLARI FAMILY
In the year 1904 Achille Solari left his home town of Carrara, Italy to seek employment
in America. Leaving his family behind, he signed with an expedition that directed him to
the Blue Ridge Marble Co. of Nelson, Georgia as a marble cutter.
In 1906, after having worked two years in the shops, Mr. Solari sent for his family to
join him in Georgia. His wife Guglielma, sons Joseph 11, Floyd 9, Sherman 5, Archie 2,
and daughter Clara 7 (Mrs. Renato Del Bianco)* boarded an old English cargo ship named
Princess Irene in Genova. After twenty-one days the family landed in New York and on
to Georgia by rail.
After two years of becoming adjusted to the new life and making friends, the Marble
Co. was forced to close because of labor problems. Having a trade as a marble cutter and
knowing of marble works in Vermont, the family moved to Center Rutland where work was
found with the Vt. Marble Co. The home they first settled in was called The Boarding
House and is presently occupied by the Hy-Way Furniture Co.
Joseph, the oldest son began work with the Marble Co. in 1911 and had continuous
service with them until his retirement in 1964. His employment was interrupted in 1918
and 1919 when he served with the Red Arrow Division in France and Germany during
World War 1. As a matter of interest, his Division returned to this country on the U.S.
Destroyer Great Northern in seven days which was record time for ocean travel between
Europe and United States.
*(Another daughter Mary was born after their arrival in this country).
The following is a list of marble workers (cutters, carvers, and sculptors) who came to
this country during this era:
Giovanni Marconi
Primo Salvioli
Anselmo Ravellini
Primo Ratti
Maurizio Ravenna
Bernardo Ravenna
Garibaldi Ravenna
Oreste De! Bianco
Casimiro Filie
Lorenzo Bandelloni
Dante Bartalena
Geno Pisanelli
Achille Moriglioni
Pilade Lucarini
Alfeo Fergosi
Ruggero Canapa
Umberto Trinci
Umberto Mutti
Achille Tavarelli
Achille lanni
Gaetano Manfredi
Antonio Battani
Cesare Terenzini
Enis Fergosi
Carrara Ambrossini
Aristide Piccini
Lando Bardi
Tamante Ambrossini
E ttore Canape
2? Lertola
Almo Tenerani
Giovanni Molin
Antonio Lucciani
Allesandro Boni
Enrico Solari
2 Buggiani
THE INFLUENCE OF THE SCANDINAVIANS ON RUTLAND TOWN
A thousand years ago, the greatest sailors in the world were the Norsemen. They mada
many daring trips into the open waters of the Atlantic. They discovered Iceland ant
(ireenland in the year 1000. The history of the Scandinavian people and their great ine
fluence on the development of America has been recorded in the books of history. As
garly as 1638, fifty emigrants were brought over by a Swedish Trading Company to first
nettle in Delaware called Port Christiana in honor of the Swedish queen, tater changed ta
New Sweden. At this time, Sweden was a world power having been an ally with Greal
Britain and the Netherlands in the Thirty Years’ War.
The great influx of these rugged Norsemen in this area came in the 1850's. Living in
the old world was difficult. The people desired a better way of life and hoped they Goulet
do so in the wonderful new lands of which they had heard. The common folks felt there
was no future for their children in the old country.
Many of the Swedish emigrants came to this area in the 1870's and 1880's. Some went
to Mineville, New York and then drifted back to Proctor, West Rutland and Center Rutland,
My mother had two aunts and three uncles who came from Sweden in the 1880’s. One
of her relatives walked from Proctor to Concord, New Hampshire and founded the Swen-
son’s Granite Company, one of the largest granite companies in New Hampshire. Some
stayed in the area bul others journeyed to other parts of America and established therm
selves in the business and professional world.
In 1901, an aunt of my mother's went back to Sweden. Her glowing account of Amer
ica, the great land of opportunity, fascinated my mother and encouraged by her aunt, she
left Falkenburg, Sweden in June of 1903 for Goteborg where she took a ship across the
North Sea to Hull, England and over by land to Liverpool where she boarded the Carpathia
who was returning from her malden voyage from England to America. (It was the Carpathia
that rescued 706 persons when the Invincible Titanic sunk on April 15, 1912.)
Landed at Ellis Island, het lnbel indicated that she should take the train to Rutland,
Vermont and then to traneler to the Dehwaro and Hudson Railroad to West Rutland. There
someone would meet har, The young tan who her Aunt sent out to meet her never made it,
The kind engineer held the train and he walked with my mother to Barnes Street where
he knew a Swedish family lived [hen she was brought to her Aunt’s home from there.
Mother worked as @ doiietic for some of the socially prominent families in Rutland
Dr. Seaver, a retired Congregational mluister, the Pond Family and the Grimm Family.
She could recount many ileresting etorles of these families. In 1909, she married my
Dad. She brought ten oliiidian into this world. in the early years of their marriage, my
Dad traveled all over the oountty for the Vermont Marble Company and so mother assumed
much of the respan@ibility ih bringing up the lanily.
in 1967, my mother aie | apent the @urnier ii Sweden. After sixty five years she re-
turned to the land of her birth. And as the Great Swedish Liner, the Gripshoim, sailed
into the harbor at Goteborg, it was a beautiful sight to behold when mother met her sister
and two brothers after being separated for sixty five years. They recounted the depar-
ture of mother for America, the eldest of the children in the Swenson family. As she bade
them goodby hardly seventeen years old and walked down the road - only to be gone for
five years to make her fortune and return to Sweden to make life easier for mother and
father. She returned sixty five years later having lived a rich and beautiful life in her
adopted land. Here she had given much to the community - over fifty years in P.T.A.
work, a life member of the Center Rutland P.T.A. in times of sorrow, she was called on to
console the bereaved. In happy occasions she was there to share this also. in the early
years she was often called on to be with expectant mothers and ushered into the world
little cherubs who could not wait for the busy doctor. Her home was a gathering place
for the neighbors ~ the Polish, the Italians, the Hungarians, the Irish - who would share
with her a cup of her Swedish coffee with Swedish delicacies which she had baked. To
her Barrett Hill family she was known as ‘‘Gram’’. Her door was always open to all - the
very young, the middleaged, and those who were in their twilight years of life. She was
not a Swede but an American. She truly represented all ethnic groups who came to this
fair land because they found a way of life which was rich and full and beautiful.
Leonard A. Johnson
Center Rutland, Vermont
July 7, 1975
The following was written by Danny Hendee, age 11, grade 6
GRAMPA WHEELER - THE BLACKSMITH
My story is about my Grandfather Wheeler who had a blacksmith shop. It was located
where my father’s garage is now. The blacksmith shop was destroyed in the 1947 flood.
Grampa Wheeler was a small man but he could shoe real big, big work horses. He
wore a big leather apron and even made many of his own tools. Sometimes he made the
shoes for the horses that had problems or were hard to fit. He had a homemade forge that
burned soft coal. You turned a bellows to make the fire that heated the iron shoes hot so
you could bend them into shapes. Sometimes the horses were stubborn and didn’t want
to stand up, or have their feet fixed and they would lean real heavy on my Grandpa. He
would straddle their legs - clip away their hooves and fit the shoes. When it fit properly
he would nail it in place. You had to be careful not to pound the nail into the horses foot
too far, but Grampa knew just how far to do it.
He did many other jobs too, like shoeing a big bobsled to draw wood and he even put
iron rim’s on wagon wheels. That was a real hard job because there were holes in the
iron and in the wooden wagon wheels. These had to fit together so you could put in the
screws that would hold the wheel together. Grandpa did many other interesting things
that we don't often see today. He was kind of old-fashioned.
Note: Grampa Wheeler died before | was born, but my mother has told me so much about
him, | think | knew him.
WHO BUILT THE MILL IN MILL VILLAGE?
In 1872 George L. Russell came to Mill Village (then Known as the Glen) from North
Ferrisburg. A miller by trade he purchased the grist mill on East Creek situated near
where the Francis Holden residence is today. We have very little information on owners
of the mill prior to this time.
The Russell family moved into the mill house (now the home of Mabel Leonard).
Sometime in the next several years a fire destroyed the mill. It was soon rebuilt. Mr.
Russell paid the interest to farmers who had backed him financially in getting reestab-
lished by grinding their first load of grain free when the new mil! opened. It became a
thriving business with a saw mill as well as the grist mill being operated by water power.
In time other owners ran the mill. Many still remember Leon Leonard. It was still in the
Leonard family when the building collapsed into the water.
ANCIENT GRISTMIL
LANDMARK, TOPLES
INTO VILLAGE POND
Historic Old Building at Mill
Village Now Lies Beneath
Fifteen Feet of Water,
JUST TIRED OF LIFE
Shortly Before Collapse Cus-
tomers Fill Storehouse to
Purchase Stock of Grain,
Accompanied by a sound of splinter-
ing timbers, a ripping tearing roar as
rusty spikes were wrenched from cling-
ing clapboards, an almost human groan
and a mighty splash the old Glen mill,
a Mill Village landmark for nearly
half a century, toppled last night into
the quiet waters of the mill pond and
now lies, with its valuable contents,
partially submerged beneath 15 feet
of water.
No Advance Tremors,
Thirty minutes before the ancient
structure, a connecting storehouse and
shed plunged into the deep. cold wa-
ter, customers of Mrs. Mattie EK.
Leonard, who sold grain from the
storehouse, were in the building get-
ting supplies of grain to draw to their
farms and they felt no premonitory
tremhlings of the old framework.
They left with their loads of feed
for their stock and in half an hour,
wt 6.30 0 clocz, the Duildids whith tHe,
had just quitted lay quietly in the pond
while the dark waters lapped calmly
and contentedly against the gray walls
which for so many years had frowned
down upon them.
Mrs. Leonard Sees Building Fall.
Mrs. Leonard saw the mill and its
adjoining buildings faJl. She heard,
from a window of her home on an ele-
vation above the mill, the first snap-
ping sounds, saw the weather-stained
building pitch, balance unsteadily for
an instant and then plunge easily, even
majestically into the pond, carrying
with it the shed and storehouse but
leaving a barn which stands on firm
ground.
F. R. Patch of this city is the owner
of the buildings and though he was
unprepared last night to make an esti-
mate of his loss it is believed it will
be considerable. Ile dets not plan to
rebuild.
Loses Grain and Vehicles.
Mrs. Leonard's loss includes about
five tons of grain, a carriage, huggy and
express wagon, several sleighs and
sleds and some valuable tools, all of
which she believes were worth about
$500.
An automobile truck and a pleasure
car, property of Sidney Butterfield, al-
so sank with the buildings and a $400
valuation has been placed on these.
Supports Weakened by Ice.
It is believed that ice, breaking up
in the spring, weakened the supports
of the old mill and that last night
the strain became too great for them.
Several years ago Mr. Patch removed
the machinery from the gristmill and
iron posts were put in to support the
end of the structure. It had been
noticed that one post had tipped slight-
ly but no trouble was anticipated.
The wrecked buildings projected out
over the waters of the pond except one
end which rested on a ledge. Mrs.
Leonard was in the mill for two hours
Tuesday and all day yesterday people
were in and out of the building.
The old Glen gristmill was erected
in 1877 but no grinding had been done
there for 10 years.
May 20, 1925
Rutland Herald Clipping
Submitted by Lawrence Russell
MILL VILLAGE - 1910
Looking north up Route 7 this picture shows two once-familiar landmarks; the
old blacksmith shop (lost in the 1947 flood) and the Mill Village spring (capped
and now under new highway)
1975
OCT BER TO= 793
Fifty Years of Milk
Peddling Is Recalled
By Mill Village Man
—_——__.
Ray Russell Traces Gradual Im-
provement in Health Regula-
tions in City,
—__.
From the days of the horse drawn
cart to the present day of motorized
trucking, from 1888 to 1938, the many
changes in the life of the early morn-
ing visitor, the milkman, were re-
viewed Saturday by Ray Russell of
Mill Village, who had been in the
milk delivery business in Rutland for
50 years on that day.
He bought his business on October
8, 1888, from A, J, Russell and still
retains four of the customers he had
at that time. He started with a high
horse drawn cart and the next year
built a low Swunhg cart, the first to
be used in Rufland by a milkman.
With this type of cart, Russell was
the first to break out the winter
roads in the morning during the
early days. In 1923 he secured the
first truck used by milkmen in the
city.
With the many changes in man-
ner of delivery and health regula-
tions, Russell says he now wonders
why more illness did not result from
handling. In the early days he de-
livered from huge cans, pouring into
a quart measure and then into the
pans which housewives left outside
their doors. Milk bottles were not
put into use until 19J0, and then it
was a matter of the customers choice,
The milkman at the turn of the
century did not sell cream and it was
necessary for the customer to raise
the cream in a pan.
Ray Russell's son, Donald took over the business following the death of his father
in November, 1938. He stil! Operates the milk-route today.
THE WILLIAMS FARM HOMESTEAD - FLOOD DAMAGE 1947
MEMORIES OF THE 1947 FLOOD AT OUR FARM
by Sherwin and Ellrena Williams
We had had many rainy days during late May of 1947. Streams were full and we were
sick of wet weather but we just passed it off as a wet Spring, until the morning of June
2nd, when news spread that the flash boards had given way on the Chittenden Dam. The
rushing overflow had washed away several houses in Chittenden. This overflow went into
the East Pittsford Dam.
This unusual amount of water coming so suddenly put a terrific Strain on the East
Pittsford Dam. Men from C.V.P.S. and others sandbagged the dam all day in an effort to
save it.
At our farm the day was warm but there was high water in the pasture all day long.
Water had been this high in the 1927 flood and nothing really bad had happened. We as-
sumed this would be no worse. After the night milking was done the water had risen to
the point we had to drive the cows across the road to night pasture instead of under the
bridge, the usual procedure. The 4-H meeting to be held here that night was canceled.
“‘Grandma’’, Pauline Williams, wanted to leave from afternoon on but Uncle Milo
Lester like ourselves did not think it necessary. Grandma's premonition was at work.
She rolled up rugs and placed them with lots of other things up high.
After supper we were trying to make up our minds what to do when the telephone rang.
It was Mrs. Roy Hatch who then lived across from the East Pittsford Dam. She said ‘‘ The
Dam has gone out; you had better get out fast.'' From that point everything was like a
nightmare that left our stomachs full of butterflies and made our legs feel like jelly.
We both flew into action. Ellrena got Grandma, Larry and Gareth, who were little
fellows, into the old Chevy, which always didn’t start at once. Ellrena always felt the
the silent prayer she said started the car at once that night. As the car backed out of
the garage water had started to come into the yard. Ellrena headed up the road to-
wards Thomas's. At Thomas's tenant house she stopped and waited for the truck which
| was to bring.
The truck was on the lawn as the car went up the road. | had helped Uncle Milo into
the truck and then missed Clarence, the hired man, Clarence had been in the back of the
truck but had decided to go back and get his rubber boots. At this point water covered
the lawn. Clarence became frightened and seemed to blank out. He had to be carried
and put into the back of the truck. The water was rising all the time. | jumped into the
truck and tried to get the truck moving but the water was so high and the lawn so slip-
pery the wheels just spun. One last sight-seer on the road, which was raised above the
lawn, saw our plight and came to help. | never did know his name. He helped Uncie
Milo out of the truck and into his car. He told his wife, who was in the car, to get going
and we helped Clarence.
In the meantime Clarence had crawled up onto the porch. We went back and each
took one of Clarence’s arms and started up the road. This man must have had a lot of
of courage and a keen sense of humor. Clarence was trying to do something with to-
bacco and matches and the man said, ‘‘Keep your powder dry Old Timer.’' As we went
Out to the road the water was nearly up to our hips and coming fast. | remember the water
pulling at our legs and how hard it was to keep going. The Thomas's realized we were
having trouble. Merritt Thomas backed down through the water and picked us up and
headed for high land.
We spent the night at Uncie Henry Lester's on Grove Street. That night we walked
Out in back of Uncle Henry’s where we could look across at our farm. It was getting
dark and also foggy. All we could see was water like a huge lake. We stayed with
Uncle Henry nearly two weeks before we could get things livable enough to go home.
There was a heavy fog the next morning but we were anxious to see what was left of
our place. The water had receded and by 4 A.M. Ellrena and | with Uncle Milo drove as
far as Thomas's tenant house. The road ahead was impassable with a big mass of rocks,
trees and debris. We left Uncle Milo, who was in poor health. We crawled over trees and
made our way around debris stepping into water that sometimes nearly reached our waists.
It was a wonderful feeling when we got to our line fence and could see through the fog
that the house and cowbarn were still there.
We finally got all the way to the buildings. A big dam of logs and debris that formed
against the grand old elms in the back yard saved the house and horsebarn. This also
split water which we believe saved the cow barn. The hog barn, hen house and corn barn
had washed away. There was mud a foot thick over most of the downstairs floors of the
house, with furniture tipped over into it. The cellar was filled with muddy sand to two
stairs from the top. A big frog sat in the kitchen that morning. Everything was a mess.
We lost 37 pigs, 188 hens and pullets but no cows. Thomas's cut the fence between
their place and ours and let them up into their pasture. In the barn water was up to the
calves bellies but they didn’t drown. In the horse barn the water came up to the horses’
necks. This was filled with parts of trees and rubbish. The horses were literally packed
into their stalls among the rubbish. They had to be freed from their strange prison. One
was a very wise old horse. After he had been led out of his stall he saw the flight of
stairs leading to the hay loft and that is where he went, upstairs.
Pigs wandered at will, the ones that were left after the flood. There was a huge
white boar who acted as our watch dog. No one cared about arguing with him. We feel
he kept many curious people at a distance and protected our property until we could
Salvage it. The only two remaining hens lived happily, roamed as they pleased and even
laid some eggs for us. Our old dog, Muggsie, greeted us that morning after the flood. He
was on the porch. We think he too went upstairs in the horsebarn along with a pig who had
crawled up there.
Nearly fifty-five acres of our eighty-five acre farm was affected by flood water. It
left anywhere from a foot to four feet of sand over this very fertile farm, which at the
time carried a cow per acre and a lot of meadow land would cut four tons of hay per
acre. It was considered one of the best small farms in the county.
As the flood water receded there were many small pools left. In nearly all these small
spots of water were live fish of several different kinds, mainly horned pout better known
to some people as bullhead. They could be fished out properly with a line or just scooped
out. Larry, who was then six years of age, used to have lots of fun fishing when his two
cousins about his age came to visit.
It is now a trifle over a quarter of a century since that devastating flood. We could
have given up hope and moved somewhere else but we didn’t. It took a lot of courage
and hard work but in a few years the farm was again producing productively. Today the
type of farming has changed from dairy cattle, pigs and poultry to raising vegetables and
making maple syrup in the spring and sweet cider in the fall. These are sold in our farm
market, formerly the old horse barn where the horse went upstairs to the hayloft. In the
hayloft we now have a farm museum for people to see some of the things used many years
ago.
This farm was bought in 1835 by Henry Whitlock Lester and is still in his family
even though the name has been changed to Williams. We hope in years to come, our
grandson Paul, the sixth generation, will still be able to have this farm. Perhaps someday
he may have a story also to tell about our farm. We hope he will never have to exper-
ience anything as frightening as the 1947 flood.
RUTLAND TOWN VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT
The Rutland Town Volunteer Fire Department was organized in 1968. Prior to this
time, fire protection for the town had been bought from the city of Rutland on an annual
basis. In the early months of 1967, the townspeople became disturbed by the extremely
high price the City Board of Aldermen was asking for continued fire protection. Town
selectmen Walter Patch, Frederick Gallipo, and Robert Solari negotiated with the Board
of Aldermen for several months but no mutually agreeable solution was found. The Se-
lectmen decided it would be advantageous to try to form a fire department within the
town.
Notices were posted and a special vote was made by the townspeople to decide on
the formation of the fire department. The ballot count showed that the townspeople were
highly in favor of a town fire department. Several weeks later, a meeting was held at the
Center Rutland School for all men of the town interested in joining the department. The
Selectmen met at the school and waited, somewhat nervously, to see if any men would
volunteer their services. Incredibly, sixty men responded and of these men, Mr. C. John
Morse was appointed Chief of the Rutland Town Volunteer Fire Department. The first
action Chief Morse took was to institute a training course for the men. Every one of the
men agreed to take a 45 hour training course offered by the Vermont State Firefighters
Association. Following this course, many men went on to take Standard and Advanced Red
Cross First Aid Courses. During this time, Chief Morse and the Board of Selectmen chose
sites for two stations. Land was bought on McKinley Ave. from Mrs. Mary Baird.
The John Russell Corporation began immediate construction of the first fire station.
A short while later, the second site was chosen off Route 4 in Center Rutland. The land
was purchased from Mr. Robert Smith and construction of the Center Rutland station was
begun by Taggart Brothers, Inc. Chief Morse searched endlessly for a pump truck. He
finally found a suitable truck and Pumper 1 was purchased by the Board of Selectmen from
the Ward LaFrance Corporation. The truck was received by the town November 2, 1967
and was stored in a garage owned by The Thomas Dairy until the McKinley Avenue Sta-
tion was completed. The City of Rutland granted the town an extension of fire protec-
tion until October 1, 1968 and the town firemen spent many long hours preparing to meet
the deadline. Two second-hand trucks were purchased by the town to be equipped as
tank trucks to carry water to fires where water is not easily accessible. Two new pick-
up trucks were also purchased at this time. The chassis’ of the tank trucks have since
been replaced by more powerful and maneuverable trucks. The chassis of the McKinley
Ave. tanker was replaced in 1972 and the Center Rutland truck was replaced in 1975.
Though not formally active yet, the town firemen got their first taste of firefighting
when, on April 16, 1968 a large barn owned by Orin Thomas of Rutland Town was de-
stroyed by fire. Firemen were at the scene for over six hours. Following the purchase of
the trucks and completion of the McKinley Avenue Station, Chief Morse submitted his
resignation to the Selectmen, and Richard Spicer was appointed Chief of the Rutland
Town Fire Department. The men spent countless hours preparing the stations for use;
wiring and plumbing had to be done and an alarm system had to be installed. Radios
were purchased for the trucks and a ‘‘base station’’ was established at Dolans Answering
Service. The ‘‘base station’’ answers calls coming in on the ‘‘red phone’’, a phone
specially installed for townspeople to report fires. The ‘‘base’’ then activates the alarm
system which is a horn on top of each station. The answering service then calls the
Chief's home and several other specified firemen's homes to begin the telephone call
system the department has developed. In the call system, the wives of the firemen have
a list of other firemen’s phone numbers and call them to inform them where the fire is.
Men who live close to the fire station get the trucks and bring them to the fire; those
men who live farther away respond directly to the fire scene.
The October 1, 1968 deadline came quickly, but the fire department was totally pre-
pared to take control. The first ‘‘official fire'’ came only eleven days after the Rutland
Town Fire Department was activated. The fire was in a small shed off Post Road Ex-
tension. The departments second fire was of major proportions and was of ‘‘suspicious”’
origin. It totally destroyed two large buildings at Killington Wood Products on the Cold
River Road. Rutland City and Rutland Town Firemen spent nearly six hours at this blaze
which caused an estimated $100,000 damage. The fire was only one of the several
‘‘suspicious’’ fires which plagued town firemen during their first year of operation.
In early January, 1969, the Rutland Town Fire Department joined the Rutland County
Mutual Aid Association which consists of sixteen area fire departments and offers free
mutual aid fire assistance to its members. The department met only token resistance when
it applied for membership. The only major question that developed was - Do the voters
of each town have to accept mutual aid contracts or is it solely up to the fire depart-
ments themselves? This question was based on a somewhat vague state statute. This
problem was readily settled by allowing each town Fire Chief to set up the contract for
his town. The Rutland Fire Department went to the Town of Clarendon on its first mu-
tual aid call on January 16, 1969. The fire destroyed a large barn owned by Robert
Ruane. Firemen were at the scene almost twelve hours trying to douse the flames.
The years have gone by smoothly for the town fire department and it has readily
gained acceptance by its neighboring towns. We have been very fortunate that we have
had no terribly devastating fires in the town. The most massive and tragic fire the town
department has been called to was on January 7, 1973 when the former Berwick Hotel
burned. The Rutland City Fire Department called in eight towns for mutual aid assist-
ance. Five residents of the Hotel perished in the fire which was listed as one of the
worst in the history of the city of Rutland. Firefighters were greatly hampered in their
efforts to contro] the blaze by the sub-zero temperatures that night.
One event of which the entire department is particularly proud occured in August,
1973 at the Vermont State Firefighters Convention in Bennington. Mr. Cleto DelBianco,
one of the original volunteers in the Rutland Town Fire Dept. was elected Vermont State
Fireman of the Year. In the resume of Cletos achievements which the department sub-
mitted to the Firefighters Assoc., it was pointed out that Cleto was fundamental in the
designing, building and installation of the quick dump system on our tank trucks.
The Rutland Town Fire Department was organized at a time of great debate and with
an uneasy feeling for its success. Since that time, however, the uneasiness has been
relieved: the department has proven itself quick, reliable, and efficient in protecting the
lives and property of the people in Rutland Town as well as in the surrounding commun-
ities. The success of the fire department would not have been possible without the en-
couragement of all the townspeople.
continued support in the future.
We thank you for your help and look forward to your
Respectfully submitted,
Michael R. McCarthy
Rutland Town Fire Department
THE RUTLAND TOWN BICENTENNIAL FILE
When we began collecting material for our booklet, we realized that a surplus of val-
uable bits of historical information might be uncovered as the interest in our town’s past
is rekindled. Time and space prohibit us from including more in our booklet and so we
have established a Rutland Town Bicentennial File which is kept in the Elementary
School Library. We invite Townspeople to contribute anything in the line of manuscripts,
clippings, or photos which relate to our town’s history. It is available to anyone. Listed
below are a few items of note already in the file that might invite your rainy day perusal:
For more information about the Billings Farm:
The Will of Rev. Benajah Roots
A Little Mystery Solved?
More information about the first settlers:
Excerpts from the Inaugural Address of Hon. John A. Mead, 4/1/1893
Henry Hall's Address, Centennial Celebration of Settlement of Rutland, 1870
Meteors in Vermont 100 Years Ago, Rutland Herald 1925 - 26?
Ralph Griffins Oxen, Rutland Herald, 3/18/1975
The Art of Quilting by Eleanor Douglas
School Reports, Old Rutland Town Reports, 1893 - 94 - 95 - 96 - 97 1904 - 07 - 08
Excerpts from ‘‘Covered Bridges of New England’’ by Clara Wagemann
There are other contributions which you will discover yourself.
Live Music
Archive
Librivox
Free Audio
Metropolitan Museum
Cleveland
Museum of Art
Internet
Arcade
Console Living Room
Open Library
American
Libraries
TV News
Understanding
9/11